INQUIRER Sports

HIS NAME SOUNDS VERY FILIPINO and according to Tony Fernandes, he has heard several of his acquaintances make the same comment.

The founder of the Asean Basketball League or ABL, Tony was our host in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, early this week where an awards dinner was held in honor of the Philippine Patriots who swept the league?s inaugural championship series,

3-0 against Indonesia?s Satria Muda BritAma.

Tony said his father is of Portuguese descent. He didn?t mention if he was born in the United Kingdom but an audio-visual presentation featuring the billionaire Malaysian businessman during the dinner said he grew up and was educated in England.

He speaks with a slight British accent. Tony is very jolly, friendly and approachable. He has the noted dry wit of the British, though.

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As if we didn?t already know, Tony said in his speech that the ABL has accomplished many firsts in its maiden season.

?The league is covered on television across the Asean region (the games are shown on ESPN) with fans and new basketball converts packing the different venues all over Southeast Asia. The first professional sports league in the region, teams have set the standards in coaching and the development of national cagers in their respective countries by providing them with a much longer period of high-level competition where they also earn as professionals,? he said.

Initially a six-member league, Tony added that they are looking to expand the number of ballclubs in the second season which starts October this year. On the business angle, Tony also announced that he is expanding the base of operations of Air Asia?a company he owns?to include the Philippines.

Mikee Romero and Tonyboy Cojuangco, co-owners of the Philippine Patriots team, are partners in this new business venture, according to the

44-year-old Tony, who is also in the entertainment industry.

?It was through the music business that I came to know Tonyboy,? he said. ?We were introduced by former television host and emcee Maan Hontiveros who works for him.?

A guest in the ABL affair, Maan said she has known Fernandes for almost 20 years.

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This May, Tony said he plans to visit the Philippines.

Tony said he also plans to bring with him his Formula l racing team, including his Fl car.

Tony recently got into formula car racing, investing ?55 million in his new sport, which he said is the cost of one airplane.

No, he does not compete in car racing. But when we asked him if he intends to go into the car business, he said it was a possibility.

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HOOPVINE: Solar Corporate Communications manager Trisha Ocampo provided us with a long list of venues where today?s Pacquiao-Clottey fight can be watched on PPV: All SM, Robinsons, Greenbelt, Glorietta, Alabang Town Center, Market!Market!, Rockwell Power Plant, Eastwood City, Shangri-la, Gateway cinemas and the Araneta Coliseum, among many others? These venues are only in Metro Manila? According to Trisha, the PPV viewing has gone nationwide and bigger than ever, across the globe. It will be the most diverse experience for all Pacquiao aficionados knowing that 45,000 are watching the fight live in Texas and millions more all over the world, Trisha said? Only in his rookie year as NCAA coach, former PBA cager Vergel Meneses has steered the Jose Rizal Bombers to the championship round of the prestigious Father Martin Cup where he will face the Frankie Lim-mentored San Beda Red Lions.