THE overseas games set for the pro league’s golden anniversary have been officially given the green light.
In a board meeting last Wednesday, the PBA board of governors sealed the deal on its scheduled matches in the Middle East later this year.
Dubai will host matches of Asia’s pioneering pro league on Oct. 25 while Bahrain takes its turn on Dec. 15 and 17.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said the league is now also in the process of holding games in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and New York in the United States as part of its grand plan of bringing the PBA closer to fans living or working abroad.
Dubai served as the venue of a number of official games by the league, including a two-day series that pitted San Miguel Beer against the NLEX and the Road Warriors against the Ginebra Kings in the season-ending Governors’ Cup six years ago.
In Manila, the 50th season of the league will likely be spiced by duels featuring guest teams from Macau, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
“They’re all interested to play in the PBA, and the board is willing to accept their participation. Puwede pa nga silang tatlo,” Marcial said.
“Malamang sa import-laced conference. Hindi pa lang natin alam kung sa Governors’ Cup o sa Commissioner’s Cup,” he added.
In another development, Meralco was tapped anew to carry the PBA’s banner in the coming EASL season.
The league opted to field just one team this time since the EASL is to expand its calendar.
“Maraming games, so hindi puwedeng dalawang teams ang ilaban natin. Mahirap para sa schedule natin,” Marcial said.
These tiffs outside the country are simply foolproof of the PBA’s commitment to go global in the fast-changing pace of the sport treated like a religion in the Philippines.
