MBA-PBA Exhibition Game in the offing?

MBA-PBA Exhibition Game in the offing?
Written by Richard Dy from SWM November 20 1998

WHILE many perceived the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) as the chief rival of the more-established Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the commissioner of the new pro hoop, Ramon Fernandez, sees it the other way. 

Just this week, Fernandez said he is offering to help the Philippine Centennial Team in its preparation for the 13th Bangkok Asian Games which commences early next month. "If the Centennial Team needs our help, we'll be willing to provide and help the team in anyway, like per- haps, playing a tuneup game with us in preparation for the Asian Games," said Fernandez. Earlier, Fernandez junked the supposed-to-be exhibition game between the MBA and the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) of commissioner Joseller 'Yeng Guiao, The MBA commissioner questioned the status of the PBL, even challenging it to first declare it as a professional or else they won't play the exhibition
match.

Then, Fernandez changed his mind. Instead, with the consent of the board, composed of the 12 team owners, the league has agreed to play with the PBA cagers since the old pro league has the 'best players' in the land. So far, the PBA-laced squad is finishing its tough training in the United States where the Filipinos battled the best collegiate basketball teams of America. If plans don't miscarry, the Philip pine Centennial Team will play the winner of the North-South squad, which plays in the first MBA All-Star Game at the Pampanga Convention Confederation (ABC) Men's championships. The international cage tournament will be held in Fukuoka, Japan in August next year. 

If the game will push thru then pinoy basketball fans will see how tense the atmosphere between these two profeesional league.