PBA eyes merger with Liga Pilipinas

The Philippines Basketball Association (PBA), Asia’s first play-for-pay league, and La Liga Pilipinas, a league that features teams from local government units, might soon merge to form a developmental cage loop.

According to incoming PBA chairman Lito Alvarez, he would propose the possible merger and creation of a developmental league when the PBA board of governors convene in China.The developmental league (D-League), added Alvarez, would serve as breeding ground for future PBA players.

The proposed D-League would be patterned after the National Basketball Association Developmental League, wherein ex-pros and free agents play. Under the plan, teams in the PBA could tap players from this league anytime.

Alvarez said Liga Pilipinas commissioner Noli Eala had already made a draft for the possible merger of the two leagues.

“I think it’s already been drafted by Noli," said Alvarez. “But this thing will be up for discussion with the board of governors."

Liga Pilipinas was founded by Eala two years ago. It’s a countrywide basketball league, wherein different provinces can take part. Each team is composed of homegrown talents and several ex-pros. The league is also being used as a prerequisite for Fil-Am cagers to become eligible for the PBA Rookie Draft.

Aside from the possible merger of the two leagues, Alvarez said he would also push for discussions on the expansion program of the PBA as well as the league’s ownership of a new coliseum.

So far, business giants such as the SM Group of Companies, the Gokongwei Group and the Phoenix Petroleum, had expressed their interest in joining the PBA.

“There are several other big companies seeking to join, but these are some which have so far expressed interest in participating," said Alvarez, who added that he was looking to add two teams to increase the member teams to 12 by 2010.

The SM Group of Companies is the staunch backer of the National University Bulldogs in the
UAAP. The company is also set to build a coliseum near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

For its part, the Gokongwei Group was one of the founding members of the PBA with one of its company brands, Great Taste, becoming a powerhouse in the 1980s. The team participated until 1992 before Sta. Lucia Realty bought the franchise.

Phoenix Petroleum, meanwhile, had been a supporter of the PBA, sponsoring its on road games the previous year. – GMANews.TV