PBA looking at six Commissioner’s Cup games in Hong Kong

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The possible participation of Hong Kong Eastern as a guest team in the midseason PBA Commissioner’s Cup later this year could include the staging of games in the former British colony.

Details of the meeting between PBA and Eastern officials were revealed Thursday, including plans to have six games in Hong Kong split in December and January.

“The proposal is to play three home games over a week in December and the other three over a week in January,” the PBA said in a press release sent to media members. “Two PBA teams may play in the first game of a doubleheader.”

Hong Kong will tap the Kai Tak Sports Park as the venue for its home matches.

Initial discussions between the two parties were revealed by Hong Kong media and PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, who’s hoping to add Eastern to spice up the league’s second conference.

This came about after Marcial and San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua met with Hong Kong Eastern chairperson Frankie Yau, sporting director Tony Wong, team manager Oliver Lee and East Asia Super League (EASL) CEO Henry Kerins and EASL Philippine head Banjo Albano.

The 2022-2023 season saw the participation of the defunct Bay Area Dragons, who made it all the way to the Finals under the tutelage of Australia national team coach Brian Goorjian, but lost to Barangay Ginebra in seven games.

Successful ball club

Eastern is one of the most successful clubs in Hong Kong. It has a history of participation in the Asean Basketball League and Fiba club competitions.

The Commissioner’s Cup is pegged for a late-November or early-December start, with each team playing 12 games if Hong Kong and the PBA come to terms.

It’s likely that the midseason tilt will have a one-import rule with unlimited height since Hong Kong does play under such conditions, although the PBA had said its member teams may be allowed to field two imports if a guest squad participates.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer will play in Group A of the EASL’s second home-and-away season which starts in October while Meralco was placed in Group B.

San Miguel is grouped alongside Japan’s B.League champion Hiroshima Dragonflies, South Korea’s Suwon KT Sonicboom and Taiwan’s Taoyuan Pauian Pilots.

Meralco will face Korean Basketball League champion Busan KCC Egis, Taiwan’s P. League+ winner New Taipei Kings and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings.