NBL Philippines, nauna sa NBL Pilipinas

UMANGAL ang kampo ng matagal  nang naitatag na NBL Philippines na siyang tunay na grassroot basketball development sa bansa.

Ito’y matapos magpatawag ng press conference ang NBL Pilipinas upang ilunsad ang kanilang professional league para lang sa homegrown basketeers daw na may basbas pa ng GAB.

“I’m very happy that NBL is turning pro, giving more basketball players especially homegrown talents opportunities to play professionally,” pahayag ni GAB chairman Baham Mitra via Zoom.

Ayon  pa kay Mitra, nakatakdang makipagpulong ang mga kinatawan ng GAB medical, league at pro games division sa mga opisyal at kinatawan ng mga miyembrong koponan ng NBL at WNBL para mailahad ang mga itinakdang rules and regulation, gayundin ang health and safety protocols na sinang-ayunan ng Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) batay sa isinumiteng Joint Administrative Order (JAO) ng GAB, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at DOH.

“Natupad na po ang pangarap natin na maging isang professional league na ang NBL,” pahayag ni NBL Commissioner at WNBL Vice President for basketball Operation Edward Aquino “NBL and WNBL are the country’s first homegrown basketball leagues. Thank you, GAB. This move will help the league and its stakeholders in discovering and honing homegrown talents nationwide. Work hard to improve the NBL with the league now turning pro,” sambit naman ni NBL executive vice president Rhose Montreal.“Excited with the league turning pro. Even with the move to turn pro, we will not veer away with the concept that made the NBL successful which is to give exposure to homegrown talents. The leagues aim to help Filipino athletes to have a steady source of income amid the coronavirus pandemic,” ayon naman kay NBL Chairman Celso Mercado.

Itinatag ang NBL noong 2018 na may konseptong ang bawat koponan na kinatawang lalawigan, munisipalidad at lungsod ay kailangang binubuo ng mga homegrown players. Umabot sa ibang bansa ang liga dahil sa Solar Sports coverage at social media.

Ang Parañaque Aces at Taguig Generals ang unang dalawang kampeon. Sa ikatlong season na nabinbin dahil sa COVID-19 kabuuang 14 team ang lalahok kabilang ang Pampanga Delta, Camsur Express,  La Union Power, Zamboanga Valientes, Muntinlupa Emeralds, Cavite Ballers, Pasig El Pirata, Quezon City Defenders, Laguna Pistons, Nueva Ecija Besprens, Caloocan Executives, at Marikina Best Shoemakers.

Tiniyak naman ng kampo ng NBL Pilippines na kanilang kukuwestiyunin ang legalidad ng kapangalang liga pagluwag ng community quarantine sa  buong bansa.

NBL Philippines ..que Pilipinas, Filipinas o Pilipino…..basta NBL anila..walang gayahan… ABANGAN!