Terrific plans for Terrific 12

That’s what our goal from the beginning and we’re currently in discussions on how to get started on a home and away model

MACAU — The success of the East Asia Super League (EASL) Terrific 12 invitational tournament here made the organizers to aspire for more.

The EASL is mulling a home-and-away format for next year’s competition with the tournament featuring eight best clubs in the continent and will run for six months.

And EASL chief executive officer Matt Bayer said his group is now laying down the groundwork for the new format as discussions are now being made with the different leagues in Asia.

“That’s what our goal from the beginning and we’re currently in discussions on how to get started on a home and away model,” Bayer told a select group of Filipino reporters here.

“We would begin with a group of eight teams then split them into two small groups. Each small group will have a representative from their respective countries, one Philippines, one China, one Japan and one Korea. And they will play within their small group,” he added.

The new model, according to Beyer, will run for six months and the challenge for them is how to get the commitment of the different leagues without disrupting the schedule of the domestic tournaments.

Beyer said he already brought this up to Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Willy Marcial and chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT KaTropa of the new model and the two league officials are receptive to the idea.

“We’re having an open and frank dialogue about this and this could really add value to the ecosystem both for the PBA and for the national team program,” Beyer said.

“But I think the challenge though is the three conferences and so we have to work with that, how does it fit in with the other leagues and their plans.”

San Miguel Beer, TNT KaTropa and Blackwater represented the PBA in this weeklong competition won by China’s Liaoning Flying Leopards bannered by ex-National Basketball Association veterans Lance Stephenson and Salah Mejri.

The CBA club beat the KBL representative in the finals 83-82, with Stephenson being named the Most Valuable Player of the competition.

The Beermen finished fourth after losing to Zhejiang Guangsha Lions in the battle for the bronze, 89-91.

Beyer said the new format could help to trim the gap between Asia and the superpowers of basketball in Europe and America as they will still employ two imports per club.

“The talent that exists in East Asia, it’s subpar to what’s in North America and Europe and how do we bridge that gap is through higher level of competition,” Beyer said.

Meanwhile, the 2019 edition of Terrific 12 saw the rise in viewership and gate attendance as the games were aired in 40 different platforms.

Beyer admitted having the three PBA teams in the competition was one of the reasons why it was their banner tournament in three years.

“It’s extremely helpful. The addition of the PBA teams helps us to bring in a huge Filipino contingent into the stadium. The attendance is good. It’s not only good for us as a business. It’s a good feeling inside the stadium for the other fans and for the players,” Beyer said.