The East Asia Super League (EASL) team almost won it all the last time they competed in the PBA.
The cat is out of the bag. The Bay Area Dragons will make their return to the PBA in the opening conference of the league’s 48th season, which is going to be the Commissioner’s Cup. The guest squad will once again feature familiar faces like Glen Yang, Zhu Songwei, and Liu Chuanxing. As for the imports, the Brian Goorjian-coached squad has yet to name its new reinforcements.
Changes have also been made for Bay Area’s reprisal. This development will pose an extra challenge, especially because Bay Area will be scheduled to play home games at the Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong during the import-laden conference. They were already menacing on the road as seen in their last PBA campaign, so just imagine what they’d be like with home-court advantage.
In any case, that’s what the PBA fans want. They welcome the different dimensions that the guests bring, and so does PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.
“The PBA is very excited about adding in a Hong Kong element to our upcoming Commissioner's Cup, and we look forward to the Bay Area Dragons team re-joining the PBA,” Marcial said as quoted by the PBA.
Another twist in Bay Area’s PBA comeback will be the team’s overall look. From the team logo to the uniform, a brand redesign will be showcased for the exciting new season.
“We expect the Dragons to bring Hong Kongers immense excitement, inspiration, and pride. Dragons' games will be the hottest sports tickets in town,” EASL CEO and co-founder Matt Beyer claimed.
Game 7 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals last season between Bay Area and the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel was played in front a record-breaking 54,589 fans at the Philippine Arena. It’s understandable why some would expect the same, if not greater success from the Hong Kong-based team's PBA encore.