The sight of Henry Kerins, co-founder and chief executive officer of the East Asia Super League, meeting eight-division world champion and Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League founder Manny Pacquiao, could be a sign that the biggest nationwide hoop in the country may find its way cracking the fastest growing league in the Asian region.
A photo circulated on social media that Kerins visited Pacquiao and played chess with the boxing icon, fueling speculations that the MPBL may soon join the EASL.
The EASL has usually drawn participation from different professional club teams in the region with no less than Asia’s pioneering professional basketball league Philippine Basketball Association participating in their tournaments as early as six years ago as teams took part both in the Super 8 and Terrific 12 tournaments.
But the MPBL may have caught the fancy of EASL, proof of that was the latter’s decision to stage its championship game of the just-concluded season in Cebu.
MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes told Pinoystep.com that there’s nothing definite yet regarding the league’s possible involvement in the EASL and all talks going on are purely exploratory.
‘Nagpunta siya kay Boss MP,” said Duremdes, referring to Kerins visiting the People’s Champion. “Exploratory talks pa lang naman yun. Wala pa namang black and white and formal na usapan.”
“But we’re expecting na may follow up siguro yun, more meetings pa to finalize kung ano ba talaga ang plans for the future ng EASL and MPBL. Siguro, nakikita nila kung ano ang MPBL dito sa Pilipinas, that’s why nagkaroon siguro sila ng interest. We’re hoping na baka magkaroon sila ng interest sa liga natin, or likewise, sa liga nila kung ano maibibigay ng liga natin sa EASL, but as of now, wala pa naman, we’re just waiting.”
Currently on its sixth season, the MPBL has a total of 29 teams participating.
Since its staging in 2018, the league has been an instant hit, particularly in the provinces, as teams play under the home and away format, similarly patterned after the National Basketball League where games are being held nearly whole year round.
Duremdes is excited on the prospects of a potential partnership with EASL.
“They know that basketball in the Philippines is No.1,” added Duremdes, one of the PBA’s all-time greatest players, who won the Most Valuable Player award in 1998. “Yun ang reason siguro kaya pumupunta sila dito, to explore and nakita naman nila kung gaano ka-fanatic yung mga Pinoy fans dito.”
“Maganda yun. But it’s just basketball. Alam mo naman ang basketball kung paano tangkilikin dito sa Pilipinas. Kung makakatulong sila sa MPBL, the better for the league.”
With Filipino players now being exposed overseas, playing in different leagues in Asia like the Japan B. League, the Korean Basketball League, the T1 League and PLeague+ in Taiwan among others, the growing interest of seeing more Pinoy hoopsters isn’t surprising at all.
“Before, I started representing our country as a player, but this time if matuloy, whatever plans mapag-usapan, we’ll be glad to represent MPBL in the EASL in the future,” said Duremdes. “Nagkakaroon na rin ng interest yung neigboring countries natin sa MPBL. Kaya napapansin nila at interested sila, ano bang mayroon tayo dito at kung ano ma-offer natin sa kanila.”
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, the growing interest in the MPBL had already been showcased, proof of that was the league’s first out-of-the-country game held in Dubai, where thousands of Filipinos were based and working.
“Of course, factor rin yung mga kababayan natin abroad (in MPBL’s success), but nakikita na rin kasi tayo sa social media platforms, sa Facebook, so madali tayong makita ngayon, kaya easily nagkakaroon sila ng pagkakataon na ma-access tayo,” added Duremdes.
