ST. LOUIS – The Midwest Professional Basketball Association and the Eurobasket Summer League are pleased to announce the merging of the two operations’ player combines, both scheduled for this coming weekend in Chicago.

                    The MPBA event had been scheduled for Saturday at the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Chicago, while the ESL tryout had been scheduled for the Lithuanian World Center in suburban Lemont Friday through Sunday.  However, a scheduling conflict Saturday at the Lemont site led ESL Manager Chris Warren to reach out to MPBA Commissioner C. Edward “Ed” Schumer to see if a joint event at the Kroc Center was possible.

                    “We’ve been talking with Chris Warren over the summer and developing a relationship with the Eurobasket Summer League,” said Schumer, “and so when they had an issue arise, working together to combine our events this weekend was a natural fit.”

                    Players that had prepaid for the MPBA combine will automatically be accepted into the ESL tryout, but players that had not paid in advance will not be allowed for walk-up registration or payment, due to the event being full.

                    “We’re glad to be partnering with ESL,” said Craig Fata, Vice President of the MPBA.  “More than 900 ESL players have gone on to play professionally in leagues around the world, and that’s our vision, to help advance players.  We had a great first year in that respect, and working with ESL will only serve to further that mission,” Fata said.

                    Registration for the joint event is closed, but those wanting more information about the leagues can visit www.eurobasketsummerleague.com or www.theMPBA.com.