RP to join newly formed ASEAN pro basketball -- Romero

MANILA, July 4 (PNA) -- Cheers for the newest ASEAN Basketball League; more and more Filipino players will soon have high-paying jobs if not taken by the PBA.

Through the efforts of Dr. Mikee Romero, the 38-year old taipan owner of the PBL's winningest Harbour team, the Philippines will take part in the inaugural launch of the 1st ASEAN Basketball League - a home-and-away tournament that hopes to provide another venue of entertainment to around 600 million basketball fanatics in the South East Asian region.

Romero, who is also the new PhilCycling president, has joined forces with ABC-5 owner Tony Boy Cojuangco in forming the Philippine club team in the regional tournament that will be participated in by five other countries. p>Also taking part in the pilot tournament founded by Malaysian billionaire Tony Fernandez of Air Asia are the Singapore Slingers, Indonesian Britama of Thokir family, Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand.

"This is just an initial step, we hope to expand the league in the near future," during Friday's SCOOP sa Kamayan on Padre Faura.

"The tournament will not only give new home to our players but will also provide entertainment to Filipinos working in other parts of the region."

The tournament has unique and interesting format. Set to kick off on Oct. 1 in Singapore, the event will be played only on weekends to generate crowd support, especially in Singapore where there is a large community of Filipinos.

The composition of the team will be seven locals, two Asian imports, two American or European imports and one local player with a foreign blood, a Fil-Am in the case of the Philippines.

"It's really exciting since other countries can hire our players as imports," added Romero. "We can hire players from the PBA, PBL and Liga ng Pilipinas. They can also hire Japanese, Koreans and Chinese talents."

Aside from Romero, also in the ABL board are Fernandez, top ranking official of the Singapore Sport Council and the owner of the Forbes Asia magazine.

Romero stressed that the league is not out to rival the country's professional league the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) saying: "We're out to help other players who will not be accommodated by the PBA."

Romero said he will hold a series of tryouts starting next month.