BLACKWATER and NLEX are set to get big boosts in their preparations for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup next month.
The Bossing and the Road Warriors will do battle with reigning French league champion ASVEL Lyon Villeurbanne, a ballclub owned by retired NBA star Tony Parker, and EASL squad Bay Area in the 75 League France-Philippines Basketball Exhibition.
“With Asvel here, I believe it will totally change the paradigm of basketball. We’re looking forward to the adjustments of our play,” Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy said yesterday during the series’ launch at the Novotel Hotel Manila.
“Asvel is a big challenge for us. Knowing that the Bay Area Dragons will also join, it will be a very good training ground for every PBA team,” he added in the event attend by French Ambassador Michéle Boccoz.
The exhibition matches will be played from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum that will commemorate the Philippines and France’s 75th year of diplomatic ties.
“It will be our first official game and it will be great for us to compete with the best teams in this competition” Dragons coach Brian Goorjian said through an interpreter.
Bannered by former NBA players Andrew Nicholson and Myles Powell, and 7-foot-5 center Liu Chuanxing, Bay Area will also see action as a guest team in the pro league’s mid-season tourney that kicks off on Sept. 21.
ASVEL will be led by French national player Antoine Diot, NBA veteran and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother Kostas, naturalized import Youssoupha Fall of Senegal and French national player William Howard.
Gilas Pilipinas was supposed to take part in the 75 League but will be unavailable due to conflict in its schedule.
NLEX agreed to take the nationals’ slot.
“We were taking our offseason break. We were in the midst of our vacation when boss Dioceldo and boss Silliman (Sy) called up and we were informed that we will have the opportunity to play the French team. I called up the guys and asked them to practice earlier so we can prepare,” Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao said.
“We’re really excited. I’m a fan of Euro basketball and a fan of Tony Parker, so it’s a great opportunity, it’s a great honor to be playing them. It’s also a learning opportunity for us and we look forward to playing world-class teams.”
