La Liga opens April 29
By Joel Orellana
Reporter
THE Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) is launching in April the Liga Pilipinas, a league that will feature teams from local government units.
The BAP-SBP has tentatively set April 29 as the opening of the tournament, which will be handled by former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Noli Eala.
BAP-SBP executive director Patrick Gregorio said they expect as many as 16 teams to join the tournament.
“A lot of provinces are signifying their intentions to join like Cebu wants to field two teams and Ilocos Sur, Pampanga and Baguio are very keen on forming their team,” said Gregorio.
“In fact, our BAP-SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan is also mulling to bankroll the Pampanga squad because he’s a Capampangan. Marami ngang naiinggit sa Pampanga because MVP is supporting the team,” he added.
The Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association and National Basketball Confederation have merged to form the core of the new basketball league.
Gregorio said they intend to discover new talent from the countryside through the Liga Pilipinas in as much the same way as what the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) did.
“The BAP-SBP believes that there are still many talents na hindi pa natin nata-tap. And this is the primary goal of this league—maghanap ng magagaling na basketball players sa buong bansa and provide them the experience they need through this Liga Pilipinas,” said Gregorio.
The BAP-SBP, Gregorio clarified, will not be competing with the PBA. In 1998 the MBA was formed through the backing of television giant ABS-CBN but folded up four years later because of funding woes.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/02252008/sports05.html