The PBA is ironing out some finishing touches, as far as reigning A1 Division champion Hong Kong Eastern's debut to the league is concerned.
"We're almost there.”
This is what PBA chairman Ricky Vargas bared regarding the status of the entry of the Hong Kong Eastern as a guest team for the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
Vargas spoke in a press conference on Wednesday, August 14 that he is confident that the inclusion of the Hong Kong-based team is almost a certainty, adding that the squad is a “competitive team.”
"Baka nga stronger pa kaysa sa previous (guest) team," the TNT Tropang Giga team governor spoke, referring to the Bay Area Dragons who saw action in the last edition of the Commissioner's Cup and finished runner up behind eventual champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
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Speaking of the Gin Kings, team governor Alfrancis Chua confirmed that the Hong Kong-based squad will indeed be the foreign guest squad competing in the import-laden tournament.
"That Hong Kong Eastern, that's the same team Christian played for before he played in the PBA," Chua added.
Chua is obviously referring to former Gin Kings superstar and now Terrafrima Dyip big man Christian Standhardinger, who played for the HK Eastern in the now-defunct Asian Basketball Season (ABL).
Besides a PBA stint, the squad– alongside the Macau Black Bears– will see action as the newest teams in the 2024-2025 East Asia Super League starting October.
The league made the official announcement on Wednesday.
HK Eastern are placed in Group A with reigning Governor’s Cup champion San Miguel Beermen alongside the Hiroshima Dragonflies, Suwon KT Sonicboom, and the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots.
The Bears, meanwhile, were drawn in Group B with the defending Philippine Cup titleholder Meralco Bolts plus the Ryukyu Golden Kings, Busan KCC Egis, and the New Taipei Kings.