MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Patriots will be back in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) to defend their crown when the Southeast Asian tournament kicks off its second season in October.
The ABL’s second season, which will run from October 2 to until February 2011, was officially launched on Monday in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“Of course, we are excited to go into the second season of the ABL. This shows that the first season was a success,” Erick Thohir, president of the South East Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) said in an ABL report.
“I have seen many a project start well but fail to continue. But the ABL has proven that the league is here to stay. The ABL is a boon to the basketball fraternity in South
East Asia,” he added.
The six teams which participated in the inaugural season will return to claim hard court supremacy in the Southeast Asian region.
These are the Patriots, Indonesia’s Satria Muda BritAma, Brunei Barracudas, Malaysia’s KL Dragons, Singapore Slingers and Thailand Cobras (formerly Thailand Tigers).
The Patriots defeated Satria Muda BritAma, 3-0, in the best-of-5 finals series last February 21. (Click here for related story.)
Jason Dixon was named the Best ABL Import while Warren Ybañez got the ABL Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The ABL League MVP was Attaporn Lertmalaiporn of the Thailand Tigers.
International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia General Secretary Dato’ Yeoh Choo Hock mentioned that the ABL is the only officially sanctioned league for Southeast Asia by FIBA Asia.
“We are very pleased with the way the first season of the ABL went through. The first season provided the much-needed boost for basketball in our region. Now we have
to move to the higher level,” the FIBA Asia official added.
ABL’s founder, Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes, also stated that the ABL is officially in the FIBA world calendar.
“The ABL had a great first season year last and we have accomplished many firsts,” he added.
The ABL was founded in 2009 to promote and develop the basketball in Southeast Asia.
Subject: Philippine Patriots ready to defend title 
Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:03 pm
