TNT, Ginebra to vie in EASL

MANILA, Philippines — PBA commissioner Willie Marcial yesterday confirmed that Governors’ Cup champion TNT and runner-up Barangay Ginebra will represent the league in the inaugural eight-team EASL home-and-away season to start in October So far, five squads have booked tickets to the competition with Korean Basketball League champion Anyang KGC and runner-up Seoul SK Knights and EASL franchise club Bay Area Dragons joining TNT and Ginebra.

The champion and runner-up of the Japanese B-League and the Taipei P.League+ winner will complete the cast. Chiba Jets, Alvark Tok, Ryukyu Golden Knights and Yokohama BC are now playing in the B-League semifinals while Taipei Fubon Braves, New Taipei Kings, Taoyuan Pilots and Taishin Dreamers are in the P.League+ semifinals.

In the EASL Champions Week last March, PBA Philippine Cup titlist San Miguel Beer and runner-up TNT saw action. For the coming EASL season, the PBA Board of Governors decided to tap the first two placers of the recent Governors’ Cup. Marcial said the PBA will adjust the schedule of next season’s first conference to fit the Wednesday-only home-and-away games of TNT and Ginebra in EASL. TNT and Ginebra will play six EASL regular season games, three home and three away, then if they advance, battle in the Final Four.

The PBA will play only two conferences next season. While one is the Philippine Cup, it’s still not certain if the other will be the Commissioner’s Cup (import height limit of under 6-10) or Governors’ Cup (import height limit of under 6-6) and what will be the first conference. Marcial, however, gave a hint of what’s to come when he said it’s 80 to 90 percent sure that Bay Area will play in the first conference. The Dragons made their PBA debut last season and finished second to Barangay Ginebra in the Commissioner’s Cup. If Bay Area plays in the first conference, it will likely be the Commissioner’s Cup and the Dragons will be based again in Manila where they stayed for over 200 days last season. Bay Area coach Brian Goorjian will pilot Australia in the coming FIBA World Cup.

Marcial said the next PBA draft is tentatively set on Sept. 17, after the FIBA World Cup ends on Sept. 10 and before the Asian Games begin in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 23. The Asian Games close on Oct. 8 and the PBA will open its season a few weeks later.