MANILA – The country's top regional basketball league right now is moving up a notch.
No less than league officials confirmed on Tuesday night that the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) has turned pro ahead of its return to action.
Mark Zambrano, the spokesman for Chooks-to-Go, which has taken over the league management due to league owner Manny Pacquiao's presidential aspirations, said the decision for the MPBL to become a professional league was necessary for it to push through amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
"We have a meeting with GAB (Games and Amusements Board), and based on their mandate, the only really big requirement that they gave us to continue to is for the league to turn pro," Zambrano said during the press launch of the league's comeback tournament, the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Invitational, at the Prestige Tower in Pasig City.
This means players will now have to obtain pro licenses or, in the case of collegiate players who want to keep their amateur statuses, special guest licenses from GAB for them to play in the MPBL.
Zambrano even bared that GAB is willing to help the teams in processing the pro licenses.
He also said the MPBL is in the process of formalizing things.
"Inaayos na namin yung (We are now fixing the) documentation when it comes to that. We already told the team managers what to do in terms of giving their players the licenses, especially those who will be seeing action in the Invitational," Zambrano said.
Front office members from three teams welcomed the major development.
"Ang gusto naman ng league (What the league wants) is growth. Sometimes, change is a hard pill to swallow, but it's the only constant thing in the world. We will embrace kung ano ang changes na mangyari (the changes that will take place) and the stuff," Makati Skyscrapers team owner Paolo Orbeta said. "Naniniwala kami sa MPBL at sa Chooks-to-Go na itong liga na ito is long-term and every year, gaganda nang gaganda (We believe in the MPBL and Chooks-to-Go that this league is long-term and every year, it becomes even better), so I think we're OK.”
Meanwhile, Councilor Elvis Tolentino of the Marikina Shoemasters said, "Ever since we joined the MPBL, nakasuporta kami kay Senator Pacquiao, so kung ano man ang decision ni Senator Pacquiao regarding sa league, 110 percent, susuporta kami (we are supporting Senator Pacquiao, so whatever the decision of Senator Pacquiao would be regarding the league, we will support it 110 percent)."
Team Manager Anj Azores of the Rizal Crusaders then said, "We are always open for options, and if it's for the betterment and development of the basketball community, we're gonna support Chooks-to-Go and the MPBL."
The MPBL Invitational is tentatively scheduled to take place on Dec. 11.
Aside from the said teams, confirming their participation as well are reigning champ Davao Occidental, Nueva Ecija, GenSan, Caloocan, Sarangani, Laguna, Bicol, Imus, Negros, and Bacolod.
More teams could join the pocket tournament depending on how many more joined before the Wednesday deadline.
Either the Crusaders, Supremos, or Heroes could be the semi-bubble hosts for the event as the MPBL is choosing among the Caloocan Sports Complex, the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, and the Ynares Center in Antipolo City as its battleground for the supposed 11-day event. (PNA)
