WILL the long wait be worth it for the return of the MPBL next month? Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes hopes so.
“Tuloy-tuloy na iyan, dahil narere-ignite na natin iyong MPBL,” Duremdes said last Tuesday in the online Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.
“Basta iyong mga players mag-ready lang sila dahil may mga naka-plano na ang MPBL by 2022,” he added.
With Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas now running its operations, the league founded by Sen. and presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao is set to launch its Invitational tourney on Dec. 11 to 21 under a stringent closed-circuit format, with the players and officials, all of whom must be fully vaccinated, restricted in movement from their homes to venue, and vice versa.
The league is eyeing to hold the tourney most likely at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Making up the stacked 22-team field are newcomer Negros Mascuvados, Datu Cup champion San Juan, Laguna, Caloocan, Sarangani, Bicol, Rizal, Nueva Ecija, Imus, Makati, General Santos, Bacolod, Marikina, Iloilo, Muntinlupa, Bacoor, Manila, Pasig, Valenzuela, Mindoro, Bulacan and Basilan.
The PBA great-turned-MPBL executive said it will be a sprint tournament, like what is usually done in FIBA tilts.
“Short tournament lang siya. FIBA-style talaga, five games a day, start ng 9 a.m. onwards,” Duremdes said in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
“So, it’s a single round robin with teams divided into four groups. Then, top two in each group advance in the playoffs, and puro knockout stage na.”
Duremdes is convinced MPBL’s comeback is timely.
“Matagal nang gusto ng mga team owners na mag-resume tayo, pero hindi pwede. Pero this is the right time, I think,” Duremdes said.
“We have 22 teams na magpa-participate and hopefully, ma-confirm namin iyong venue namin, which is the MOA Arena, for the December 11 opening.”
The FIBA will also monitor the Invitational tournament, according to Duremdes, “(The) FIBA will be watching this,” he said. “Titingnan nila kung paano tayo magpapatakbo ng liga.”
