By Kevin Reynaldo
HONG KONG Eastern is poised to join the PBA Commissioner’s Cup as a guest team, with negotiations nearing completion. PBA Board Chairman Ricky Vargas announced during a press conference for the league’s 49th season at the EDSA Shangri-La that the entry of the Hong Kong-based squad is almost finalized. “We’re almost there. I can say that 90 percent that we will have a guest team,” Vargas stated confidently.
The inclusion of Hong Kong Eastern will bring the total number of teams in the mid-season conference to 13. Vargas highlighted the competitive nature of the Hong Kong team, suggesting they might be even stronger than the previous guest team, the Bay Area Dragons, who finished as runners-up in the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup behind Barangay Ginebra. “Baka nga stronger pa kaysa sa previous (guest) team,” Vargas remarked, emphasizing the league’s preparations to ensure its teams are ready to compete.
Commissioner Willie Marcial and Board Vice Chairman Alfrancis Chua are leading the negotiations with Hong Kong Eastern, a team that previously competed in the ASEAN Basketball League with notable players like Christian Standhardinger. The same team is also set to participate in the EASL home-and-away Season 2, although the roster for their PBA stint has yet to be released. The addition of Hong Kong Eastern is expected to add excitement and a new level of competition to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
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