Southeast Asian nations form pro basketball league

Pro League in SEA

Singapore Slingers John Fitzgerald. The Slingers are planning to confirm participation in the new league shortly.
Image: Bjorn Engelhardt.

MANILA, Philippines – The warm response given by the South East Asian market to club team Singapore Slingers made seven member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to form the region’s first professional league.

The Asean Basketball League (ABL), which was launched early this week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will have its inaugural season in September this year with Slingers owner and AirAsia top boss Tony Fernandes as the league’s first chairman.

The league will start with a 10-team tournament from the seven ASEAN countries. Teams will be allowed to enjoy the services of four imports – two non-Asians and two Asians.

The Asean was organized in 1967 with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand as founding members. It grew to a 10-nation organization with the inclusion of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

It was also announced that bids can now be submitted for the available 10 club franchises. Applicants will be assessed based on the professional and economical requirements of the league to "ensure the long term success of the league."

The league will have 600 million people as target market with Indonesia comprising the biggest market. – Courtesy of GMANews.TV

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New SEA basketball league

New basketball league for South-east Asia
('Yes, there will be a lot of obstacles and road blocks. But no mountain will stop us,' said Mr Fernandes (left). -- PHOTO: AIR ASIA)


KUALA LUMPUR - SOUTH-east Asia on Monday launched an ambitious professional basketball league - to begin in September - aimed at boosting the popularity and standards of the game in the region.

The Asean Basketball League is backed by regional tycoons including AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes and Indonesian media mogul Erick Thoir, who have contributed US$5 million (S$7.5 million) in total between them.

Organisers said that basketball is the second most popular team sport behind football among the 600 million population of South-east Asia. At least eight teams are expected to play in the inaugural league.

Mr Patrick Baumann, secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation (Fiba), said Asia was ready for a professional league but warned organisers will have to ensure it doesn't fade away after a few years.

'The time is right but it is not going to be simple to sustain the league,' he told reporters at the launch of the ABL.

Mr Baumann said the league would need top-notch management and that the participating teams would have to be of a high standard to woo fans.

'There has to be good entertainment. The clubs need to be managed professionally and well funded. You cannot have the league for one or two years and then stop,' he said.

Mr Fernandes downplayed fears that the ABL may not succeed and said it could one day join the popular ranks of the NBA in the United States.

'Yes, there will be a lot of obstacles and road blocks. But no mountain will stop us,' he said.

'During an economic downturn like now, this new league will create jobs.

Can you imagine 5,000 people during this slowdown flying to Manila to watch a game?' Mr Fernandes said of the possible wider economic benefits of the league.

In terms of national rankings among the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean), the Philippines tops the table in basketball followed by Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Mr Fernandes said the league will sow the seeds for new talent and boost the sport in the region, adding that foreign professional players will play the circuit.

'The aim is to develop local talent. Foreign players from outside Asean will be role models. Maybe one day our players will play in the NBA,' he said.

Fiba president Bob Elphinston said the league will be organised by the South-east Asian Basketball Association (Seaba), the governing body for basketball in the region.

Each of the 10 South-east Asian nations is allowed a maximum of two privately owned teams in the league. Prize money has not been finalised yet.

Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. -- AFP Courtesy of StraitsTimes

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Brunei for Asean league

Brunei for Asean league?

by Jason Thomas

Sultanate has been invited to participate in a new regional basketball league BBA to discuss chance to play in Asean Basketball League.

The Brunei Basketball Association (BBA) will be holding their annual general meeting today, with one of the topics on the agenda being the country's participation in a newly formed regional basketball league.

The Asean Basketball League is being formed to promote basketball in the region by introducing a new regional basketball league consisting of professional club teams from Southeast Asian countries.

Though the Sultanate does not have any professional teams of its own, there is a possibility that one could be set up to compete in the league in the future.

"I cannot disclose whether we will send a team or not because we will only be discussing the matter during our AGM tomorrow," said BBA secretary Christina Tan when contacted by The Brunei Times yesterday.

"Our participation in the Asean Basketball League will be one of the topics on the agenda and we will keep the media informed on any new developments," the BBA secretary added.

National basketball coach Bennett Palad was also unable to shed more light on the topic, only saying that he knew the country had been given an invitation to compete.

"I only got back to town (from the Philippines) a couple of days ago so I do not know much about this either," said Palad during a telephone interview yesterday.

"I think we were invited, but I am not sure. The association has not informed me about this yet," added the Philippine coach.

Head coach of 2008 Aewon Sultan's Cup champions Ilongo Slashers, Jess Violeta, stated that though it would be difficult to set up a team to compete in the league, it would not be impossible.

Citing the lack of resources and talent in the Sultanate as two barriers, Violeta felt that with enough support, Brunei could be represented at the Asean Basketball League.

"The resources and talent in this country are very limited and if you want to talk about forming a team to compete against clubs from the Philippines or Singapore we only have a select few players who are capable of doing so," said Violeta.

"But I am sure that with enough support from the private sector and backing from the government something can be done," he added.

The formation of the league will for the first time see professional teams consisting of international players from the United States, Europe and Australia playing alongside local players fighting for sporting glory among their regional neighbours in a regional league played on a home and away basis.

Malaysia's Tune Sports, in collaboration with the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA), will officially be announcing the formation of the league the first of its kind in Southeast Asia at a Press conference in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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