FILE–San Miguel played in the East Asia Super League: Terrific 12. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Eyeing a stronger relationship with other leagues in the Asian region, the PBA has forged a partnership with the East Asia Super League.
The decision by the PBA to join the EASL comes at a time where there has been an exodus of Filipino players to other leagues particularly the B.League in Japan.
“We asked to be part of the policy board of [the] EASL,” PBA chair Ricky Vargas said during the PSA Forum on Tuesday. “So we will be sending a representative to be a board member in the EASL.”
“When we do have stronger ties there, then we will be able to see to it that we respect each other’s rights in terms of movements of players,” said Vargas, who is also the governor of TNT. “So we will have better coordination.”
PBA stars like Kiefer Ravena and Ray Parks are among those who have taken their act in the B.League.
Two Filipino-Americans in Jason Brickman and Jordan Heading, meanwhile, have joined the T1 league in Taiwan.
The EASL held its inaugural season in 2017. Several PBA clubs have participated in the league since.
TNT, San Miguel Beer and Blackwater competed in the East Asia Super League: Terrific 12 in Macau two years ago.