Push Admin

ABL to halt operations after FIBA decision, says Singapore team

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Photo courtesy of the ABL." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/01/09/abl_zamboanga.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Photo courtesy of the ABL.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – The Asean Basketball League (ABL) will halt its operations yet again.</p><p>The ABL &quot;is unlikely to play for the foreseeable future&quot; due to FIBA, the world&#x27;s basketball governing body, telling the league that they &quot;do not fit into FIBA&#x27;s plans for basketball in the region,&quot; the Singapore Slingers revealed on their Facebook account on Monday.</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/M5u21YxhwN6zgTEC/?mibextid=qi2Omg" data-width="auto"> </div><p>“It is with a heavy heart and great disappointment that the Singapore Slingers ownership announced that the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) is unlikely to play for the foreseeable future,” the club said. </p><p>“The ABL was informed by FIBA that the league does not fit into FIBA&#x27;s plans for basketball in the region. FIBA will be selective of which leagues it would support and allow moving forward,” they explained. </p><p>“FIBA&#x27;s clear instructions to the regional basketball federations essentially denied the ABL a viable future.”</p><p>The ABL itself has yet to make a formal announcement on its future.</p><p>The Southeast Asian league, which was founded in 2009, has been home to the Slingers, Philippine-based squads Alab Pilipinas, San Miguel Beermen, Philippine Patriots, Zamboanga Valientes, and many other regional clubs. </p><p>The league canceled its 2019-2020 season and had only returned early this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. </p><p>Just as they are regaining steam after successfully holding the 2023 Invitational Cup, the ABL will bid goodbye yet again.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/04/22/look-asean-basketball-league-announces-return">LOOK: ASEAN Basketball League announces return</a></li></ul><p>“The ABL has spent the past 2 years trying to find a compromise with FIBA without success,” the Slingers said. </p><p>Meanwhile, the Slingers, who are among the six original squads of the league since its inception, will now be looking to continue their plans through other ventures.</p><p>“The Singapore Slingers, who have been a cornerstone of professional basketball in Singapore over the past 17 years, will explore how it can continue to be a development platform for our top Singapore basketball players through the active involvement of SportSG,” the team said. </p><p>“The Singapore Slingers ownership and management would like to thank all our season ticket members and fans for their support over the past 17 years.”</p>