The Return of the Beermen

SMC President Ramon S. Ang seals the deal with ABL co-founder Erick Thohir. (JB)

PASIG CITY – One of the most storied names in Philippine basketball history makes a grand return on a bigger stage with the launching of the San Miguel Beermen as the second Filipino entry in the coming third season of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) in 2012.

A formal contract signing was held Wednesday afternoon at the San Miguel Corporation head office with no less than its President Ramon S. Ang inking the pact with ABL co-founder and Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Erick Thohir. Witnessing the ceremonies were San Miguel Brewery President Roberto Huang, Robert Non, Noli Eala and ABL Chief Executive Office Kuhan Foo.

Seven-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Best Import Bobby Parks was introduced as the Beermen’s Head Coach. It is a homecoming of sorts for Parks, who began his legendary career in the Philippines with San Miguel in 1986. At the time of his appointment, he was an assistant coach with the Petron Blazers, the new name that the Beermen began to use in the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup.

“We will bring San Miguel’s winning tradition to the ABL,” said Ang. “We also aim to strengthen our brand in Southeast Asia as we have investments in Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.” Initially, San Miguel has committed to stay with the ABL for the next five years.

For his part, Thohir recalled the fact that Southeast Asian teams used to regularly make the top four in the Asian level. “It is our dream that in 10 years our teams will again be among the best in Asia,” he said.

Meanwhile, Coach Parks declined to name either prospective players or his coaching staff, leaving it to management to make the announcement. “I hope to form a running team that knows how to execute specially in the end game and a team that can play defense,” said the former University of Memphis star. “You can score all those points but if you don’t stop your opponents from scoring its useless.”

A mix of past and present PBA pros plus standouts from Liga Pilipinas, the D-League and fresh college graduates are expected to comprise the Beermen. A name that has been floated is Junmar Fajardo, the 6’9” center out of the University of Cebu. “I would love to have him,” said Coach Parks. “If ever, then I will have to get another center that plays differently from him.” Rumors circulated in Fajardo’s native Cebu that he would join the ABL Beermen after playing in his final collegiate season this semester.

Since the ABL would begin its 2011-2012 wars in January after the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia this November, Foo bared that the league has plans to keep the teams and its players busy. Several pocket tournaments hosted by the various clubs are in the works that may include non-ABL teams.

Thohir also added that the ABL is looking to add another team or two now that they have a seven-team roster with the signing of San Miguel. They are negotiating with prospective expansion teams in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. The long term goal is to have 12 teams by 2015 but they want to take things slowly in order to protect the existing teams.

Regarding a possible rivalry with the ABL’s original Filipino team the Philippine Patriots, Ang was quick to explain that he considers Patriots team owner Michael Romero as family as they have business ventures together. “I have no problem with that, we will support each other,” said Ang.

Should it be an all-Philippines ABL finals, only the champion can go on to represent SEABA in the 23rd FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in 2012 along with the Third Placer.

In other issues, Thohir said that the ABL is monitoring the FIBA suspension of Thailand but feels that the defending champions can still compete, the ABL being a club tournament. They are also looking at the plight of the Brunei Barracudas, which is having problems due to the lack of local players.

With the entry of a big conglomerate in San Miguel Corporation, it looks like the ABL has further solidified its existence as the driving force for the development of basketball in the region. Along with its current partners like Air Asia and ESPN Asia, the ABL is here to stay.