The PBA will take a 40-day recess during the Governors’ Cup next year to give way to the Asian Games in Nagoya on Sept. 19-Oct. 4 with Commissioner Willie Marcial laying the groundwork to hold a pocket tournament involving foreign teams while on break.
Nothing is final at the moment except that the Governors’ Cup, featuring imports with a height limit of 6-6, will start July 10. There is interest among teams from Hong Kong, Macau and Indonesia to play in the PBA and an option is to bring them over for the pocket tournament. The break will cover at least two weeks of preparation and the actual competition in Nagoya with coach Tim Cone out to retain Gilas’ championship.
It will be an extended 50th season for PBA as FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying windows are scheduled on Nov. 27-Dec. 1 this year, Feb. 26-March 2, July 2-6, Aug. 27-31 and Nov. 26-30 next year. While PBA will take a break for the Asian Games, it will not interrupt the schedule for the coming SEA Games in Bangkok. PBA’s 50th anniversary season could stretch to at least 15 months.
In the coming Philippine Cup, the quarterfinals will be on Dec. 21-28. The top four elimination placers gain a twice-to-beat advantage over the next four finishers in the quarterfinals where the pairings are 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. There will be no playoff for eighth spot. The same format will be used in the Commissioner’s Cup where the 66-game eliminations are scheduled on March 11-May 13 next year. The Philippine and Commissioner’s Cups will feature a best-of-seven semifinals and finals. The Governors’ Cup will roll out a best-of-five semifinals and best-of-seven finals. The All-Star Weekend will be on March 6-8 in Candon, Ilocos Sur.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the first conference will hold games at Ynares Center in Antipolo and Montalban with several dates at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and MOA booked during the Christmas holidays, Ninoy Aquino Stadium earmarked for the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup on Nov. 21-Dec. 7 and PhilSports Arena undergoing renovation.