The meeting between organizers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) led by league founder, Senator Manny Pacquiao, and prospective teams from the Visayas and Mindanao regions, will be at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Lahug this Saturday.
According to MPBL commissioner and former PBA great Kenneth Duremdes, the time will depend on the availability of Pacquiao.
However, Duremdes, in a chat with Cebu Daily News, expressed how excited the MPBL is to welcome new teams from the south, after a successful inaugural season that saw the Batangas Athletics claim the title.
“I have heard that Dennis Uy (a Davao-based businessman) is interested in putting up two teams. One in Davao and another in Lapu-Lapu. Then we also have another team from Davao Oriental. There’s also teams from Cebu and Victorias in Bacolod. We’re all excited to talk to them this weekend,” said the former PBA MVP.
The number of teams that are set to compete in the league’s next season has already ballooned to 20 following the confirmation of the Pampanga, Manila, Pasig, and San Juan.
Aside from Pampanga, Manila, San Juan, Laguna, Team Rizal, Pasig, and Makati are all set to be the league’s newest expansion teams.