San Miguel to join ABL

MANILA, Philippines — A second team from the Philippines will play in the ASEAN Basketball League's (ABL) third season set to tip off early next year.

Former basketball official Noli Eala, who now has a corporate role at San Miguel Corporation, tweeted Tuesday that the new ABL team will carry the San Miguel Beer brand.

If finalized by league officials based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the SMB squad will be the second Philippine team to join after the inaugural champion AirAsia Philippine Patriots.

"SMB will have a new team in ABL separate from Patriots. Bale, 2nd Phl team for the league. ABL is expanding kasi," Eala said in a reply to a Twitter follower.

The Bulletin tried to contact ABL chief executive director Kuhan Foo from Kuala Lumpur but was unavailable for comment at presstime.

But Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero said the possible entry of San Miguel is a welcome development for the league.

“Knowing the tradition of San Miguel, the battle for supremacy will be much intense this time,” said Romero.

Foo said in March won by the Chang Thailand Slammers that they plan to add two more squads from the usual six-team field that was seen in the first two seasons.

Another team from Indonesia, expected to be Satria Muda BritAma's chief rival Garuda Bandung, and a squad from Vietnam are among teams that are reportedly being eyed to join the ABL aside from the Philippines.

Aside from expansion, the Brunei Barracudas, plagued by financial problems, are rumored to be moving to Malaysia to become the country's second ABL team after the Westports KL Dragons.

Eala also said the team plans to form a lineup in September before the ABL begins in January.

Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin