PBL nais gawing school-based league

Pagkabuhay ng dating franchise, dalawang bagong ball clubs, 18 rookies at isang grupo ng mga rising stars ang bubuo ng 23rd season ng Philippine Basketball League (PBL) ayon kina Commissioner Chino Trinidad at new Board Chairman Raymund Yu na panauhin sa lingguhang PSA Forum na ginanap sa Manila Pavilion kahapon.

Tinalakay ang kick-off conference ng PBL sa season na ito, ang Open Championships kung saan walong teams ang maglalaban-laban simula sa Oct. 23, kung saan magiging malaking hamon ang rookie teams Granny Goose at Air Philippines sa mga veteran squads Welcoat, Montana, Toyota Otis-Letran, Magnolia-FEU, Addict Mobile-Ateneo at ang nagbabalik na ICTSI-La Salle.

"One or two teams don’t make a league. This is going to be a collective effort from all of the eight teams so it’s going to be an exciting season for us," ani Trinidad.

Sinabi naman ni Yu ng Welcoat na magkakaroon ng maraming innovations sa season opening tournaments na simula lamang ng kanyang magandang plano para sa PBL.

Bukod sa Air Philippines at General Milling Corporation, ang mother franchise ng Granny Goose, sinabi ni Yu na dalawa pang teams ang madadagdag sa season-ending meet para sa target na 12 teams sa 2005 season.

Idinagdag pa nitong nais ng PBL na maging school-based league ngayong mayroon nang apat na school team members.

"Of course, more teams would mean lesser cost and expenses for the ballclub owners, dahil maghahati-hati na lang kami sa gastos sa liga. But we’ll do it without compromising the quality of play in the league. We’ll try to make the PBL a better league," ani Yu sa public sports program na sponsored ng Agfa Colors, Red Bull at PAGCOR.

Sinabi din ni Yu na may posibilidad na mabuhay ang interes ng Welcoat na sumali sa Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) ngunit hindi pa ngayon.

"We’re not closing the doors although the interest is not as big as before. We’re concentrating in the PBL right now. Kung tutuusin kasi, hindi rin naman pahuhuli as far as exposure here is concern."