Here’s what to expect in the PBA’s Golden Anniversary season by the numbers.
5- FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying windows starting November this year up to November next year to impact the PBA’s 50th season. The PBA will take a break during the windows. There will also be a sixth window on Feb. 25-March 1, 2027 but that will be during the PBA’s 51st season.
9- rule changes. A key change is it is now legal to reverse a referee’s call and make the correct call in situations of third party contact/blocking and/or charging, foul/out-of-bounds or last touch and all kinds of foul, including charging and blocking provided it took place on the same play phase. Previously, only a call that is challenged will be determined to uphold or not. Another change is in the last two minutes of every quarter, penalty is called after two team fouls. This was done only in the fourth quarter in past seasons. Still, another change is in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or OT, there will be a deadball after every made basket where referees may review validity of the conversion. If no review is made, the basket may no longer be reviewed.
14 -rookies on opening day rosters, namely Ginebra’s Sonny Estil, Blackwater’s Dalph Panopio and Jack Dumont, Converge’s Juan Gomez de Liaño, Mark Omega and Kobe Monje, Magnolia’s Gab Gomez, Phoenix’ Dave Ando, San Miguel Beer’s Chris Miller and Royce Mantua, Terrafirma’s JM Bravo and Ira Bateller and Titan’s Chris Koon and Mario Barasi. The list will increase when draftees from the MPBL and NCAA join, including Geo Chiu, Will Gozum, Jason Brickman, LJ Gonzales and Yukien Andrada.
31- players from last season not on current lineups, including Jvee Casio, Mark Borboran, Chris Exciminiano, Terrence Romeo, Jackson Corpuz and Justin Chua. The list includes William Navarro, Jamie Malonzo and Arvin Tolentino who are now playing abroad.
27 – players who switched teams this season, including TNT’s Jio Jalalon, Tyrus Hill and Kevin Ferrer, Terrafirma’s Jerrick Ahanmisi, Paul Garcia and Prince Rivero, Titan’s Ato Ular, Aljun Melecio, Jeo Ambohot, Von Pessumal and James Martinez and Rain or Shine’s Stanley Pringle.
2- provincial games in the Philippine Cup. The first will be Converge against TNT at the Chavit Coliseum in Vigan, Ilocos Sur on Oct. 18 and the second, Rain or Shine against TNT in Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 15.
3 – out-of-the-country games in the first conference. The first will be San Miguel Beer against Ginebra in Dubai on Oct. 26. Two games will be played in Bahrain, the first Magnolia against Rain or Shine on Dec. 15 and second Rain or Shine against Ginebra on Dec. 17.
23 – referees to open the first conference, three of whom are rookies. Last season, there were 24 in the referees’ start list.