SAN Miguel Beer, a team rich in basketball tradition, is hoping to bring its winning formula to the Asean Basketball League (ABL).
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) president and chief executive officer (CEO) Ramon Ang announced on Wednesday that San Miguel Beer Philippines is joining the third season of the ABL next year.
“We are honored to be part of ABL. We believe that this is a good way of promoting the San Miguel Beer brand in the region and we will bring that winning tradition to the ABL,” said Ang during the formal contract-signing ceremony between SMC and ABL brass at the former’s headquarters in Pasig City.
“Rest assured that we will form a competitive team for the coming season of the ABL to make us all proud,” he added.
San Miguel Beer Philippines, which will also be known as the Beermen, will be handled by the Philippine Basketball Association’s only seven-time Best Import Bobby Parks.
Parks said he is looking forward to the challenge as he stressed that San Miguel Beer is always known for being a winner.
“We will form a running team that also executes down the stretch and that the players must have a defensive mindset,” said Parks, who will schedule a series of tryouts next month.
“I would prefer players who are less talented but hard workers than talented but don’t work hard because this team will be built around hard work and teamwork,” he added.
Parks is now an assistant to Petron Blaze coach Ato Agustin in the PBA and is the assistant athletic director of National University, where his son Ray Parks Jr. is suiting up for the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines tournament.
“Rayray is already in our lineup,” Parks said in jest. “But the players will most likely come from the PBA and other commercial leagues. But we will get players who are capable of winning.”
Southeast Asian Basketball Association president Eric Thohir said San Miguel Beer’s entry in the ABL will definitely boost basketball in the region.
“We’re honored that San Miguel is participating in the ABL and it’s a big boost to the confidence of basketball in the Southeast Asia region,” he said. “We hope that more conglomerates will join the ABL in the future.
Ang, Thohir and ABL CEO Kuhan signed the contracts.
The Beermen are the second Philippine team in the ABL after the Philippine Patriots of businessman Mikee Romero, which won the inaugural tournament in 2009.
Foo said their league allows basketball-loving countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand to field two teams in the league.
“We don’t have any problem with that and I think it’s also good for the ABL,” said Foo, who added that they are expecting eight teams to compete in the third season of the ABL.
Ang said it was Romero who encouraged him to join the ABL. “Mr. Romero is our business partner and he’s part of our family. We will support each other in the ABL,” he said.
Also present during the contract signing were Robert Huang, president of San Miguel Brewery, and SMC officials Robert Non and Noli Eala.
The Beermen are eyeing the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City as their home court.
(Joel Orellana)
In Photo: Sealing the deal are (from left) Roberto Huang, Ramon Ang, Erick Thohir and Kuhan Foo. (Nonoy Lacza)
