Liga to continue helping provincial cagers—Eala

LIGA Pilipinas Chief Executive Officer, Noli Eala assured basketball fans in Cebu and across the nation that the country’s premier regional basketball league is here to stay, during the press conference hosted by second leg hosts, Cebu City Councilor Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba and the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos, yesterday at the Yayoy’s Grill.

The Liga took awhile before coming back with a new conference after the Tournament of the Philippines last year, which fueled speculations that it will fold up, especially with the creation of the PBA D-League. Eala though, remained confident that the Liga Pilipinas, which is already in its fifth season, will continue to provide regions and provinces with high-level basketball.

“The Liga will always have a place in basketball. The D-League caters to collegiate players in Manila and I guess they forgot that there are a lot of good basketball players outside of Manila. And this is where we come in as the Liga Pilipinas aspires to develop basketball in the region and in the provinces. Gusto namin mabigyan ng trabaho ang mga basketbolista natin outside of Manila and this is something that the D-League obviously cannot give,” said Eala.

Joining Eala at the press conference were Alcoseba, Mandaue City Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede, Ilocos Sur Vice Mayor Tito Purisima, Ilocos Sur Tourism Officer Winona Singson-Santos, Mandaue-Cebu Landmaster/RDAK head coach Jun Tan, Misamis Oriental Meteors head coach Jun Noel and Ilocos Sur CS Tigers head coach Johndel Cardel.

After the six legs have been done, the “Super Leg” will be held several places already hoping to nab the hosting rights. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio