PBL thumbs down merger with Liga
By Joaquin Henson
Updated July 08, 2009
12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - PBL chairman Mikee Romero of Oracle and Harbour Centre said the other day a proposed merger with Liga Pilipinas will be impossible to arrange because of the two leagues’ diametrically opposed approaches.
Romero said the possibility of a merger has been discussed with Liga president Noli Eala but there’s no way for a modus vivendi because of the PBL’s “developmental” character as a springboard for the PBA.
“We’ve set an age limit in the PBL, precisely because we’re catering to the collegiate players with an eye to turn pro,” said Romero. “Our age limit right now is 25 but since we’re still in the transition period, we’re allowing each team to go over the max by two players until 29. Eventually, we’ll bring down the limit to 24 then 23, eliminating the exception as we move forward. That’s not the case with Liga, which I think has no age limit. Liga is open to former PBA players, free agents, veterans and anyone who can make the team. They’re also a home-and-away league with an emphasis on homegrown players. The PBL is essentially a Manila league like the PBA.”
Romero said he’s hoping to get a favorable ruling from the UAAP reducing the residency from two years to one before a varsity player is able to suit up in the PBL. At the moment, the UAAP requires a two-year residency while the NCAA only one.
While the PBL was down to only five teams last conference, Romero said the league will bounce back with at least seven entries next season. Toyota is expected to make a comeback, he mentioned. Romero said his franchise is committed to playing in the PBL where Harbour Centre and Oracle have won the last seven championships in a row. The goal is to equal the Boston Celtics’ record of eight consecutive titles in the NBA.
Romero added that San Miguel Corp., Lucio (Bong) Tan, Jr., Pharex and Cecilio Pedro’s Hapee Toothpaste will return to give Oracle a run for its money.
“Since the PBL is really for collegiate players, we’re enlisting more schools to participate through their varsity teams being sponsored by private groups,” continued Romero. “We offer solid training in the PBL preparatory for a career in the PBA. There is no other amateur league like the PBL that offers the physical play and banging that are second nature to pros and international players.”
Romero, who earned a doctorate in management with high distinction from the International Academy of Management and Economics in 2006, confirmed that he will join the Asean Basketball League board headed by Air-Asia billionaire owner Tony Fernandes of Malaysia. Romero and ABC-5 owner Tony Boy Cojuangco are paying the $200,000 franchise fee for a Philippine team, which is still to be named. A suggestion was to call it the Manila Magic but Romero said he’s not comfortable using the nickname of the NBA’s losing finalist this past season.
Romero said the home-and-away league will begin on Oct. 1 in Singapore. Aside from the Philippines, the other entries are Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei. The Philippine team will be coached by Louie Alas and some of the players are Sam Ekwe, Jerwin Gaco, Boyet Bautista and Jonathan Fernandez.
“If we don’t join, we might fall behind in the race to the top of Asean basketball,” said Romero. “We don’t want the other countries to get ahead. Eventually, we hope to expand the league to include teams from Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan. Right now, our market is the 600 million population in Southeast Asia. The games will be shown on ESPN every weekend and the Manila games will probably be played at the San Juan Arena. The league will go on until February the next year.”
Romero said each ABL team is mandated to sign up seven local players reinforced by two foreign imports (outside of Southeast Asia), two Southeast Asian imports and one player who has ethnic lineage to the host country but holds a foreign passport. He mentioned that several Filipinos are being recruited by teams as Southeast Asian imports, including Al Vergara for Singapore.
Michael Johnson, a 6-10 former Australian player, will be likely calling the shots for the ABL as commissioner. FIBA-Asia secretary-general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock has been designated ABL consultant and FIBA-Asia will be in charge of technical affairs.
Romero said representing the country in the ABL has a special meaning.
“I will never forget holding the Philippine flag and waving it after we won the SEABA Champions Cup title in Indonesia in 2007,” said Romero. “It was like I was waving it slow motion. You can’t imagine the feeling of pride. There was a lot of pressure on us because it was the first tournament we played after FIBA lifted our suspension. That same year, we won the Southeast Asian Games gold medal in Bangkok with a record-breaking average winning margin of 43 points. It was also that same year when our national team played the Singapore Slingers in Singapore. We came back from 30 points down to win by four with guys like Chris Tiu, Jason Castro, Jonathan Fernandez and Vergara.”
Romero said the lesson from the Singapore experience is that in international competition, a team like the Philippines with no significant size can win by knocking down three-point shots consistently and using quickness to create turnovers in leading to transition baskets.
“We found out we won’t be able to beat bigger teams by playing the post, backing in like we do in the PBA,” said Romero. “If we hit 20 three-pointers in a game for 60 points, I think that’s good enough to beat a bigger team. That Slingers team we beat had an average height of 6-8, they had two NBA players and a 6-10 center. We shot 14 three-pointers and repeatedly took away the ball from the big guys who dribbled high because they were so tall.”
Romero said he expects the Philippines to be the team to beat in the ABL.
