By JEREMIAH SEVILLA
SMART CLARK GIGA CITY – The opening of the next season will be the top agenda when the PBA board of governors convened virtually on Thursday afternoon.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said he would formally convey to the board his proposal of an April 2021 opening for the 46th season.
Marcial earlier explained to Manila Bulletin-Tempo reporter Waylon Galvez that the target opening will provide players enough time to prepare while also giving way to the FIBA Asia Cup third window in February and the Holy Week which will start in late March.
The 10th PBA chief stressed that it remains to be seen if the next season will run under a bubble setup like what the league is currently doing with its shortened 45th season which is now on its homestretch.
“Baka hindi pa mapag-usapan ‘yun (another bubble). Sobrang early pa. Hindi pa natin alam kung anong mangyayari sa Abril,” he said.
“Maraming factors gaya ng kung ano ang status ng vaccine, anong klaseng bubble, venue, ekonomiya na kailangan i-consider.”
Also on the line for discussion were the plan to hand out the traditional awards, the PBA Draft and the inaugural 3×3 tournament.
The annual draft is being eyed to be held in March 2021, though applications of Fil-foreign players are expected to begin as early as this month.
The 3×3 tourney is planned to start next year after getting postponed last March along with the 45th season and the D-League due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Marcial also bared that East Asia Super League CEO Matt Beyer would present to the board its proposal to include PBA teams in their 2021-2022 season backed by FIBA and will also feature a total of eight ballclubs from China, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.
NLEX and Blackwater participated in EASL’s Summer Super 8 in 2018. The Elite joined anew in the second edition of the Terrific 12 together with the San Miguel Beermen and the TNT Katropa (Tropang Giga) last year.
