Taiwan, EABL, PBA eye SGA as guest team?

THE successful title-run by Strong Group Athletics (SGA) in the just-concluded William Jones Cup, has gained some sort of prominence in this part of the globe, as offers here and abroad besset the newly crowned champion to play in their respective league as guest.

Though the said invites offered from Taiwan League, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and East Asia Basketball League (EABL) has yet to confirm by SGA head mentor Charles Tiu, together with team manager Jacob Lao and owner Frank Lao.

Previously, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial has been mulling around with the idea of inviting a guest team in the next Governor’s Cup or Commissioners Cup, which proved to beneficial to the league when they have the Bay Area Dragons from Hing Kong two years ago.

It was also reported that, after SGA sweep the recently Jones Cup title via eight-games, Taiwan pro-league has sent fillers to have them as guest as well in their next season sometime mid-August.

Another possible foreign invites for SGA, is from EABL, which already three PBA squad are in its fold, led by San Miguel Beer, sister team Ginebra and Meralco.

And true enough, SGA’s impressive performance in the other international stint, Dubai International Basketball Tournament, wherein SGA was reinforced by NBA superstar Dwight Howard, wound up as runner up to Al Riaydi, led by the flambouyant-Lebanese Wael Arakji.

Tajuan Agee, who is among the five American reinforcement of SGA along with ex-San Miguel.import, Chris McCullough, is also convinced that SGA deserve an invites in those league.

Agree, who scored 19-points in the finals, even cited a couple of brilliant plays of team mates R.J Abbarientos and Renz Abando, both played crucial role for SGA title-triumph.

Meantime, as the country’s 22 finest athletes competing in different discipline in the ongoing Paris Olympics, back home, coaches in the PBA has expressed mixed views with regards to implementation of the new 4-point shot.

Top three coaches viewed differently. Ginebra and Gilas mentor Tim Cone said “ Its good for All Star Games, where all the fun is. but not for serious basketball,”

“Though it can speed up the game, wherein players will have to play on a man-to-man zone,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.

Meralco Bolts mentor Luigi Trillio sees it, “might cause difficulty in terms of adjustment for our national team, when it play zone defense in the FIBA tournament.”