Three Reasons why ABL is already Better than the PBA

(c) PBA Media Bureau

Asean Basketball League will open their 9th season this November 16, 2018. The  Philippines is represented by Alab Pilipinas who is mentored by coach Jimmy Alapag.

ABL's growth had been steady and they will feature the most number of teams this season. The way ABL is managed, it is easy to see them becoming a professional league, sooner rather than later.

Of course, PBA is still the most popular professional basketball league in Southeast Asia. And yet, there are already three reasons why ABL is much better than the PBA. 


#1 Home and Away
I do not think the PBA can adopt home and away format anytime soon. On the other hand, ABL started right away with the format and was able to maintain it up to this point. Unlike the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, the format is applied from start to finish.

So, you will see our team, Alab Pilipinas, play their home games in the Philippines against all the other competing teams. With the home and away format, the fans will feel an attachment to their franchise, much easier. 

This is one of the reasons why the new franchises in the PBA are having a hard time building up their fan bases. The PBA is built in a way that attachment is not easily built and loyalty to old franchises is hard to crack. 

#2 Balance of Competition
When ABL started, a lot of people said that the Philippines will dominate the league. It did not happen. The Philippines have the most crown with 3. But if you think about it though, winning 3 out of 8 possible championships is not dominance.

The balance of competition in the ABL is way better than in the PBA. For the upcoming season, 10 countries will be represented in the competition, including China. Just the fact that the teams are representing their country is enough reason to stay competitive and focus on winning the crown.

The other reason why there is a better equilibrium in the ABL is the fact that it is not a marketing league. Teams who joined the league are legit franchises who want to earn money by participating in the league and not by making transactions. 

#3 Destination of Fil-Foreigner 
Because it is an amateur league, talented Filipino-Foreigners have joined and grown there. In the past, we first saw Stanley Pringle, Moala Tautuaa, Justin Melton and Christian Standhardinger. Filipino-Foreigners are joining ABL, not only because of the ease but because the level of competition is actually good.

For the upcoming season, the cast of Fil-Foreigners is loaded again. Led by Joshua Munzon who averaged 24.5 points per game and Mik McKinney who beat out Munzon for the Most Valuable Heritage Import award last season. 

Alab is bringing in newcomers in Brandon Rosser, brother of Matthew Rosser, and Ethan Alvano.


Conclusion?
ABL is already a better league than the PBA.