MANILA, Philippines – As the Commissioner’s Cup gets underway on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, two major milestones are the reinstatement of import restrictions and the addition of another East Asia Super League (EASL) team to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Hong Kong Eastern, a team ready to introduce its strong roster and elite skill to Asia’s oldest professional basketball league, will be the center of attention.

The first day’s main event, which is set for 7:30 p.m., will feature an exciting matchup between the Phoenix Fuel Masters, captained by import Donovan Smith, and Hong Kong Eastern. This comes after the 5 p.m. curtain-raiser between Terrafirma and Converge.

There is a lot of excitement surrounding Hong Kong Eastern’s debut, with many hoping the squad will follow in the Bay Area Dragons’ footsteps. Last year, when the Dragons placed second to Barangay Ginebra in the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup, they left a lasting impact. Similar to the Dragons, Hong Kong Eastern hopes to make an impression on Filipino basketball fans while using their PBA tenure as a training ground for the EASL.

Former Bay Area Dragons players Hayden Blankley, Kobey Lam, and Glen Yang are among the well-known members of the Hong Kong team, along with immigrant Cameron Clark. These players are hoping to duplicate the Dragons’ success under the Hong Kong Eastern banner after playing a key role in their lengthy playoff run. Ramon Cao, Leung Shiu Wah, Chu Tsz Yung, Chan Siu Wing, Cheung Yin Lung, Pok Yuet Yeung, Zhu Hao, Adam Xu, Leung Ka Hin, Muhammad Sulaiman Sheikh, and Steven Guinchard are among the talented local and foreign players who stand behind them. Mensur Bajramovic, an experienced coach, will lead the team.

Their first PBA matchup is against a Phoenix Fuel Masters team looking to bounce back from a poor performance in the previous Governors’ Cup. Despite fielding foreigners Jayveous McKinnis and Brandone Francis, the Fuel Masters only achieved one victory in ten games under coach Jamike Jarin.

Phoenix is counting on 6-foot-10 Donovan Smith to help them turn things around this time. Smith, 30, has played in leagues in Kosovo, Austria, Georgia, Cyprus, Spain, Romania, and the Dominican Republic, giving him a lot of international experience. Notably, he played a significant role in the Kosovo team’s victory earlier this year in the Balkan League.

Key players Sean Manganti, Jason Perkins, Raul Soyud, Ato Ular, RR Garcia, Jayjay Alejandro, Kai Ballungay, Matthew Daves, RJ Jazul, Simon Camacho, Tyler Tio, Ken Tuffin, Raffy Verano, Ricci Rivero, and Larry Muyang, have joined Smith on the Fuel Masters squad. Phoenix’s resolve to compete at a higher level and bounce back from its prior defeats is shown in this strengthened lineup.

It is anticipated that the game will put both teams to the test. Hong Kong Eastern will use its global experience and all-star squad to try to create an impression right away. Smith will lead Phoenix’s effort to become competitive again as the squad looks to make an impression at home.

This debut is more than simply a game for Hong Kong Eastern; it’s a chance to establish their brand and get useful experience before the EASL. Phoenix sees it as an opportunity to change the course of its history and demonstrate that the squad is capable of competing with some of Asia’s top teams.

What looks to be an exciting season begins with the PBA Commissioner’s Cup opener. Fans can anticipate an exciting, dramatic, and unforgettable event that combines local talent with an international flair and the high-stakes atmosphere that has made the PBA what it is. The activity on the court will soon reveal if Phoenix can rise from the ashes or whether Hong Kong Eastern can live up to the high standards set by the Bay Area Dragons.