JUST one.
PBA chief Willie Marcial said last Sunday night that teams are only allowed to field a solitary import of unlimited height in the Commissioner’s Cup set to start on Nov. 27.
“Ang imports natin for the Commissioner’s Cup isa lang with unlimited height,” Marcial said before Game 5 of the best-of-5 quarterfinals showdown in the ongoing Governors’ Cup pitting San Miguel Beer and Converge.
Marcial said the pro league is finalizing the entry of Hong Kong Eastern as a guest team in the mid-season tourney.
Marcial added the PBA and the Hong Kong-based ballclub already agreed in principle about the team’s coming participation in the next conference.
“Kontrata na lang. Pero in principle okay na kami noong team owner (chairman Frankie Yau),” Marcial said. “Kausap ko siya noong isang araw, nasa Europe siya. Gagawa na lang ng kontrata.”
Hong Kong Eastern also competes in the East Asia Super League, where squads are allowed to field two reinforcements simultaneously.
But the team will only be permitted to field one import in the PBA, according to Marcial.
“Pumayag sila dun na isang import lang. Puwede silang magpalit (ng import) pero according sa regulations natin,” the amiable commissioner said.
Marcial is saying the original import can be replaced but must be placed in the injury/reserved list in order to be eligible to return if his team decides.
But the replacement can no longer return once he’s been supplanted by the original reinforcement.
HK Eastern is seeking a two-year stop in Asia’s pioneering pro league but Marcial said both parties will have to sit down again after the conference and discuss the matter.
“Gusto nila two years. Pero sabi ko tingnan natin after this season, mag-usap kami ulit,” he said. “Hindi muna this season. By next year na.”
The Bay Area Dragons saw action in the same edition of the tilt from 2022 to 2023 when they finished as bridesmaid to the Ginebra Kings. Can another foreign quintet give PBA sides a run for their money anew?