The fan favorite guest team might be back soon.
The last PBA season might be one of the most entertaining year the league has experienced, and the guest team Bay Area Dragons is a huge part of that success. Bringing in an outside competitor proved to be a winning formula for the Asia's oldest professional league. It pressured teams to perform better. It gave the viewers fresh faces to watch and root for (or against). The Dragons gave old and new fans something to look forward to, aside from their local teams.
In a nutshell, it would be a disservice to not bring back the Dragons.
The good news is the PBA is already in contact with the Hong Kong squad, which originally has a Phoenix monicker but had to switch it up to another mythical creature to avoid confusion with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.
"Sinusubukan din natin kung maibabalik natin ang Bay Area dito sa conference na 'to. Two conferences lang kasi e," PBA commissioner Willie Marcial told former league commissioner Noli Eala on Power and Play.
"Mukhang gusto nila, kinakausap natin. So sana magtuluy-tuloy sana. Sana maging successful itong 48th season."
Marcial is hoping that the talks will be fruitful. Although, Bay Area might need to compromise in its second crack.
"Aayusin natin yung imports, hindi na pwede 'yung dalawa. Kung magkakasundo tayo, malamang bumalik 'yung Bay Area."
The Dragons fielded two imports in the previous PBA Commissioner's Cup—Myles Powell and Andrew Nicholson—but was only allowed to field one per game. Powell ended up finishing the tournament as the main reinforcement.
Aside from Bay Area, Marcial said the league is in talks to regularly invite overseas squads.
"Pinag-uusapan. Ang ano lang doon, kung magkakasundo tayo with that team. Kung magkakasundo 'yung mga proseso. Kung okay sila sa mga kondisyon natin. Madami e. Madaming factors e."