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