The inaugural ASEAN Basketball League is set to tip off in October with the launch date set for August 8 in Bangkok.

By Vincent Lai

The ABL board, which was set up earlier this year, was in Singapore recently for a top-level meeting to iron out several keys issues in the running of the region's first professional basketball competition.

A visibly happy ABL Chairman Tony Fernandes told espnstar.com that he was excited about turning a dream into reality.

"To me, it was a dream to make the league a reality," said Dato Tony who is also chairman of the Singapore Slingers.

"We were talking about player trading, salary caps, schedules, TV production. It's real, it's coming. It's a lot of excitement."

"I'm not a basketball guy, but listening to the banter and interaction, it's going to be very exciting, I was very excited. And it was a thrill to see ASEAN working, Indonesians, Singaporeans, Malaysians, Thais, and everyone working for one purpose."

Fernandes also added that the ABL was an important step in the Slingers' transition from an Australian National Basketball League team to a relevant part of the basketball culture in the region.

"The Slingers are moving to another chapter of their lives," added the Slingers chairman. "They have become much more relevant. Playing in the ASEAN League makes more sense."

"Today is the realisation for the Slingers to go after a 600 million market, as opposed to a 24 million market in Australia and a three million market in Singapore."

"I think it's a big, big day for the Slingers.  From a little twinkle in someone's eyes, we are getting closer to D-day. Today is an important day for ASEAN sports."

Echoing the same sentiments was Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) president Erick Thohir who said that the establishing of the league was important in the development of the game in the region.

"It's a dream come true," said Thohir. "When they asked me to take over as president of SEABA three years ago, one of my presentations to the members of the region emphasized on two things - The need to form a regional league to upgrade the standard of play, as well as improve the standard of refereeing and coaching."

The SEABA president also confirmed that the ABL would be launched on ASEAN Day, with the participating teams also being confirmed on the occasion.

"The board, representing the club owners, the management of the league and the Southeast Asia commission met up to talk about the preparation for the league launch on the eighth of August, which is ASEAN Day," added Thohir.

"We are going to launch the ABL in Bangkok, and ASEAN Secretary General Mr Surin Pitsuwan, will help the kick-off the event."

Slingers' CEO Bob Turner welcomed the results of the meeting, saying the Singapore outfit was always looking to play in an Asian league.

"It was always our vision to play in Asia one day, and that was the whole setup," said Turner. "We started in the Australian league to launch the Slingers name and brand."

"Then last year we realized we needed to play in Asia, and our chairman Tony Fernandes is a big believer in ASEAN. So he said, ‘let's start an ASEAN league.' We got our approvals from FIBA Asia, from SEABA, from FIBA itself."

"If you were to say to me three years ago that we'll have a team competing in a professional ASEAN League, or an Asian competition, I would have said ‘it's a big call, it might take five or six years.' To do it in three, I think it's fantastic and thanks to the Singapore Sports Council backing us, and to the Indoor Stadium getting us this far."