For the first time in East Asia Super League (EASL) history, the Philippines will not be represented by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Instead, it will be the reigning Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) champion Abra Solid North Weavers who will represent the country in the regional basketball tournament that has long been a source of frustration for Filipino basketball fans. 

The Philippines has been a regular participant in the EASL, and yet the Philippine EASL representatives were winless until December 13, 2023, which was when the Meralco Bolts earned the Philippines’ breakthrough victory in the EASL with a 97-88 overtime victory over the Japan B.League’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. 

Overall, it’s a great development for Philippine basketball as a whole, because of the recognition another local league gets on the international stage. The MPBL has been able to provide opportunities for other players to continue playing basketball at a very competitive level, especially if the PBA is not within reach at the moment. 

For the Weavers, it is a great achievement especially since they only joined the MPBL in 2024. They’ve accumulated a 46-11 record in the last two seasons, with their 28-1 campaign last year resulting in a championship. As of this writing, Abra is 21-2 and likely to be the favorite to repeat. 

It remains to be seen if this will be a one-time thing for the Weavers and the MPBL, but this could make Abra consider a jump to the PBA. The Weavers quickly established themselves as a powerhouse in the MPBL and the next step is naturally to look for a challenge. The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters provide the blueprint for this, as their success in the Philippine Basketball League eventually lead to a move to the PBA. 

That a young franchise in a league that has at times come in their cross hairs is more of a warning for the PBA. Playing in the EASL is a privilege typically given to the champion of a country’s top-flight league and the PBA and its teams have been afforded this for the longest time. And now, they’ve been overtaken by Abra, a two-year old franchise that has been taking its competition seriously. Rather than take this as a threat, the PBA can turn this into a positive by taking a good look at the Weavers in the event they want to apply. 

Of course, there are a lot of what-ifs that remain, such as how Abra will fare in the EASL, whether or not they will keep their players should they move to the PBA, and the chances a jump to the PBA will truly materialize, especially since the move is a major investment that can be costly early on.  

But for now, the Abra Solid North Weavers have gotten your attention and that of the region. They’ve worked their way to becoming champions and are about to take on the toughest teams the region has to offer in the East Asia Super League. It’s a dream come true for the Weavers but it’s also a message for the rest: be complacent and get left behind.