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| The main men of the 10 ABL teams join ABL COO Jericho Ilagan in a photo-op. |
PASAY—With how the teams shook their rosters up for the upcoming ABL season, it is no surprise Jericho Ilagan, the league's chief operating officer, could not help but be amazed on how the new year is shaping up to be.
CLS, which pulled off a Cinderella run in the playoffs to claim the league title last season, begged off this season, leaving the championship vacant for its nine former opponents to take.
Not to mention a new club joining in the form of Taiwanese club Fubon Braves, who are also no pushovers as they are the reigning Super Basketball League champions.
No wonder Ilagan believes the ABL's 10th season could be the wildest ever.
"Everybody's stacked up this year," Ilagan told Dugout Philippines on Thursday during the league's season launch at Conrad Manila.
Take Alab Pilipinas for example.
Despite losing arguably its best scorer in Ray-Ray Parks, the team got the league's best playmaker right not in Jason Brickman.
Mono Vampire, Brickham's former team, got a replacement for him in Anthony Tucker and also acquired the ever explosive Tyler Lamb.
Singapore is another team to look out after signing Marcus Elliott to form what Ilagan coined as a "deadly" combination with Xavier Alexander.
The other seven clubs, including the expansion Fubon, also made major tweaks to their rosters with Fubon set to bring in former NBA player OJ Mayo.
With that said, Ilagan thought everyone can dispute the title.
"Unlike the previous years when it's kinda easier to say who's going to the top bracket, eto medyo mahirap talaga," he continued.
The new ABL season begins on Nov. 16.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
Not to mention a new club joining in the form of Taiwanese club Fubon Braves, who are also no pushovers as they are the reigning Super Basketball League champions.
No wonder Ilagan believes the ABL's 10th season could be the wildest ever.
"Everybody's stacked up this year," Ilagan told Dugout Philippines on Thursday during the league's season launch at Conrad Manila.
Take Alab Pilipinas for example.
Despite losing arguably its best scorer in Ray-Ray Parks, the team got the league's best playmaker right not in Jason Brickman.
Mono Vampire, Brickham's former team, got a replacement for him in Anthony Tucker and also acquired the ever explosive Tyler Lamb.
Singapore is another team to look out after signing Marcus Elliott to form what Ilagan coined as a "deadly" combination with Xavier Alexander.
The other seven clubs, including the expansion Fubon, also made major tweaks to their rosters with Fubon set to bring in former NBA player OJ Mayo.
With that said, Ilagan thought everyone can dispute the title.
"Unlike the previous years when it's kinda easier to say who's going to the top bracket, eto medyo mahirap talaga," he continued.
The new ABL season begins on Nov. 16.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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