PHILIPPINE Basketball Association commissioner Sonny Barrios said he doesn?t see how the pro league could join the newly formed Asean Basketball League scheduled to start in September.

Backed by AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes and Indonesian media mogul Erick Thoir, who are reportedly pumping $5 million into the venue, the league will be organized by the Southeast Asia Basketball Association which is the governing body for basketball in the region.

Channel News Asia reported that each of the 10 Southeast Asian countries will be allowed to send in a maximum of two privately owned teams.

?They know how we love basketball so maybe a multi-national brand like Coke may be interested. But right now, I don?t see how a PBA team could fit into that,? said Barrios.

It was also noted that the home-and-away format would be costly.

The Singapore Slingers will be one of the teams competing in the ABL, which hopes to develop new talent in the region with foreign pros being allowed to also reinforce teams in the competition which is expected to run until February.

At the launch in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, graced by Fiba president Bob Elphinston of Australia and secretary-general Patrick Baumann, Fernandes said he was hopeful that the league?s players would someday play in the National Basketball Association.

?During an economic downturn like now, this league will create jobs. Can you imagine 5,000 people during the slowdown flying to Manila to watch a game?,? said Fernandes.

Fernandes, who is the ABL chairman and chief executive of Air Asia, said he was targeting eight to 10 teams initially, which would play on a home-and-away basis leading to a knockout stage. Ronnie Nathanielsz