Beermen join ABL, tap Parks as coach

Photo from ABL Website

MANILA—The San Miguel Beermen aim to continue their proud winning tradition in the Asean Basketball League.

Ramon S. Ang, president and chief operations officer of San Miguel Corp., yesterday announced that the giant food conglomerate will use the Beermen moniker when it joins the ABL’s third season set to start early next year.

“We’re honored to be part of the ABL which is the fastest growing basketball league in the region,” said Ang during a press conference at the SMC head office in Ortigas, Mandaluyong.

Ang also sees a long partnership with the regional league, saying that SMC, which will officially be called San Miguel Beer-Philippines, initially agreed to support the ABL for five years.

The Beermen own a record 18 titles in the PBA. They are currently carrying the name Petron Blaze Boosters this conference.

Ang assured ABL president Eric Tojir of Indonesia and executive director Kuhan Foo of Malaysia that San Miguel will be fielding a competitive team.

Tapped to form San Miguel Beer-Philippines is seven-time PBA best import Bobby Parks, who bared that he has a “running team that can execute down the stretch in mind.”

“We’re looking at ex-PBA players, current PBA players, and players on Liga Pilipinas,” said Parks. “We’ll definitely try to compose the best team possible.”