Crest Sport and Entertainment Purchase Stake in EASL's Bay Area Dragons

Crest Sport and Entertainment (Crest), the ownership group of the NBL's Illawarra Hawks, are pleased to announce their investment in the Bay Area Dragons of the East Asian Super League [EASL].

The news follows EASL's announcement earlier this week that will see Crest become one of the new league's largest shareholders.

Crest is committed to propagating the game of basketball in Australia. With surging participation numbers, a globally recognised national competition in the NBL, and a record number of Australians applying their trade in the NBA, Europe and across Asia, Crest believes the time is now to scale their investment in the sport.

Crest Chairman and Illawarra Hawks Managing Director Jared Novelly says today's announcement reinforces the organisation's commitment to the sport of basketball across the region.

"The Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games signal a decade-long timeline to leverage the growth of the game in Australia and the Asia Pacific, with the relationship between the Hawks, Dragons, the EASL and a proposed youth academy system seen as critical to delivering on our strategic basketball agenda." Said Novelly.

"Crest is dedicated to the growth of basketball in the region and ensuring our teams have access to the best talent, coaching, and development pathways. The combined efforts of the Crest family of brands will also deliver value to our respective markets' commercial, consumer, and community efforts."

The investment and partnership with the Bay Area Dragons will also strengthen the ties between Crest, the Illawarra Hawks, and the Dragons and Australian Boomers Head Coach Brian Goorjian.

Under Goorjian's tutelage, the Dragons have been a standout in the EASL's inaugural season, finishing first on the league standings with a 10-2 regular season record.

The Dragons are currently competing for the PBA Commissioner's Cup against Barangay Ginebra. The series is locked at 3-3, with the deciding Game Seven taking place this Sunday at Philippine Arena, Bulacan, in front of a projected crowd of 50,000.

"The investment in the Bay Area Dragons represents another critical step in our strategy to position the club's within the Crest portfolio for long-term success. The opportunity to continue our relationship with Brian and his team was a driving factor in the decision. We look forward to this Sunday's decider as the Dragons look to secure the Commissioner's Cup." Said Novelly.

"It is an exciting time to be a Hawks or Dragons player, front office employee, or commercial partner and member, and we look forward to working with all parties to drive success on and off the court."

Bay Area Dragons Head Coach Brian Goorjian spoke to the news on the eve of the Commissioner's Cup decider.

"We are excited to welcome Jared, Crest, and the Hawks franchise to the Bay Area Dragons family. The EASL and the Dragons have lofty aspirations, and we are thrilled that Crest is joining us on this journey."

"I am passionate about the sport and its development in the region. Having spent the last 30 years coaching in Australia and China, I have seen firsthand the potential for growth in the game. Ongoing investment in the respective professional leagues will continue to drive the success of Australian and Asian players on the international scene. The opportunity to work with Crest, the Leagues and the Hawks and Dragons as we navigate the roadmap to the upcoming World Champs, Olympic Games, and Brisbane 2023 is exciting for all involved."

"I look forward to connecting our on-court and off-court teams, our corporate partners and the fan bases more broadly in the coming seasons."

"Our immediate focus is here in the Philippines and the Commissioners Cup. The opportunity that presents us on Sunday is significant, and the chance to create history is not lost on the group."

The Bay Area Dragons face Barangay Ginebra in Game Seven of the PBA's Commissioner's Cup at 8:45 pm AEDT this Sunday, 15th January.