Asia League chief determined to get more PBA teams to join its tournaments

Asia League CEO Matt Beyer talks to the members of the Philippine media before the semifinals of the Terrific 12 Saturday at Studio City. BONG LOZADA

MACAU—The Asia League had its first full season in 2018, holding the Super 8 and Terrific 12 tournaments in Macau.

And as the international competition starts to gain attention in the region, its CEO Matt Beyer looks to forge a strong relationship with the PBA.

Beyer has already met with PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial but he knows there still work needed to be done to form a partnership and get more teams to play in the Asia League.

“Commissioner Willie is like a very very nice man and he’s hospitable when I came to Manila,” said Beyer Saturday at Studio City. “He’s a friend but things take time and it’s going to take time for us to get to the point where we can get more PBA teams to join.”

The Super 8 in July managed to get the participation of PBA teams Blackwater and NLEX during the break between the two conference but the Terrific 12 here only managed to recruit a D-League selection under the banner of Blackwater’s affiliate iECO.

Beyer said he wants to work with San Miguel Corporation president Ramon Ang and PLDT president Manuel V. Pangilinan in sending the top PBA teams to Macau.

The SMC and MVP groups own the PBA’s top teams in San Miguel, Barangay Ginebra, Magnolia, and TNT with those four teams combining for 56 of the league’s total 122 titles.

“We want RSA and MVP, we want these guys to think this is important, whatever we can do to help them feel that way we’re going to do that,” said Beyer who added that Macau has more than 35,000 Filipinos living within its borders.

“The Philippine teams add more competition and everyone is intimidated by Filipino fans because they cheer the loudest. I want the Philippine teams more than anything else.”