THERE’S a new league in town and it’s for players aged 40 years and above – the Sinag Liga Asya Lakas Kwarenta.
The tournament, which attracted 16 teams, started last Saturday at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City and, this early, there are more teams knocking on the door.
“The players are happy. Magugulat kayo. And ngayon pa lang, madami pang gusto sumali.
Hindi lang namin ma-accommodate because we want to finish before Christmas,” said league chief Leo Isaac.
The former PBA player said in yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum that each team is allowed to field one ex-pro provided he has been inactive for five years.
Rodney Santos, another ex-PBA player who serves as commissioner, said the 16 teams were divided into two groups that will play a single round-robin eliminations leading to the quarterfinals, best-of-three semis and best-of-three finals.
“The players, including executives, are very excited because the games are televised on Aliw TV (formerly Studio 23) and are shown on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. Masaya sila ma-TV,” he said.
Among the ex-pros seeing action are Wynne Arboleda, now 46, Egay Billones, now 47, and Gilbert Malabanan, now 44.
Isaac told the public sports program backed by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Milo, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation that the ex-pros provide added excitement to the league that has Rocky Chan as chairman.
“Egay Billones scored 46 points the other night and Gilbert Malabanan had a triple double.
Exciting talaga,” said the former Ginebra mainstay, mentioning teams from Binan, Malolos, San Pedro, Manila, Las Pinas, Quezon City and Pampanga as among the early entries.
Isaac said they plan to wrap up the inaugural conference before Christmas and plan to hold three conferences for next year. Games are played on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 6 p.m.