Asean Basketball League draws more teams for new season

Source: bernama
After hosting Southeast Asia's first professional basketball league which concluded in February, the Asean Basketball League (ABL) has attracted three new teams for its second season which will start in October.

ABL founder Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes said from six teams in the inaugural season, the new 2010/2011 season was expected to increase up to 10 teams.

"We expect Vietnam to join the ABL this October. We're targeting participation from all the 10 Asean countries," he told reporters here after presenting last season's awards to players Wednesday.

Fernandes said Philippine Patriots, the first team to lift the ABL crown, could now eye the Asian Basketball Championship as the ABL provided the best platform for international exposure.

Six teams -- Philippine Patriots (Philipines), Satria Muda Britama (Indonesia), Singapore Slingers (Singapore), Thailand Tigers (Thailand), Brunei Barracudas (Brunei) and KL Dragons (Malaysia) -- took part in the first season.

KL Dragons secured the fourth place, behind Satria Muda Britama, Singapore Slingers and Philippine Patriots.

Jason Dixon of Philippine Patriots clinched the Best ABL Import player award while fellow teammate Warren Ybanez claimed the ABL Final's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Attaporn Lertmalaiporn of Thailand Tigers took the ABL League MVP.