By JONAS TERRADO
The PBA believes it can revert back to a traditional three-conference format if plans for the 46th season are going to push through in April.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said this after Thursday’s virtual meeting with members of the Board of Governors, citing plenty of factors that will have to play out before determining the length of the 2021 season.
That is why he has asked members of the board to take a wait and see approach, just like several months ago when the league eventually decided to stage the ongoing bubble in Clark, Pampanga.
There’s also the FIBA Asia Cup and possible international windows that may force the league to stretch its calendar in the event it decides to have the centerpiece Philippine Cup and the import-laden Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup.
“Meron na kaming exact date, pero depende pa dun sa vaccine, sa anu klaseng bubble, ekonomiya, venue. So sabi ko kung pwedeng tignan natin by February kung ano ang sitwasyon,” said Marcial.
“Sukat naman tayo hanggang three conferences, pero matatapos na ng January. At wala pa ang FIBA dun kasi kahit ang FIBA, di din nila alam ang schedule nila so di pa natin mapagaralan,” Marcial added.
The league cut short its 45th season to only the Philippine Cup after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a suspension of games for seven months.
Games resumed in October inside the Smart Clark Giga City bubble and the season is now reaching its end with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and TNT contesting the Philippine Cup crown.
BOARD ALLOWS PLAYERS
TO PLAY FOR GILAS
The PBA Board likewise gave the green light for Gilas Pilipinas to enlist the services of pro cagers for the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers slated in February.
Marcial said the board approved the request of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio after Gilas was forced to field an all-amateur lineup in the recent window that saw the national cagers produce back-to-back wins over Thailand in Bahrain.
“Sinabihan kami ni (SBP) president Al Panlilio na baka pwedeng gumamit ng PBA players at pinapayagan naman namin,” Marcial said, adding that the matter will be further discussed once the SBP submits a formal request to the board.
Having PBA players in the window is something that prompted the PBA to push back the planned start of the 46th season in April.
Gilas fielded a mixture of PBA and amateur standouts during its lone match of the first window last February, beating Indonesia 100-70 in Jakarta.
Among the PBA cagers who suited up against the Indonesians were NLEX’s Kiefer Ravena, TNT’s RR Pogoy and Terrafirma’s CJ Perez.
The ongoing PBA bubble forced Gilas to go with an all-amateur players even if some of the pros were already available to don the national jersey.
Gilas defeated the Thais 90-76 and 93-69 under a bubble setup in the Bahrani capital of Manama to move on top of Group A with a 3-0 record.
The SBP has expressed interest in hosting a similar bubble in February, and having pros on the roster will help boost the team’s chances of formalizing its entry in the continental competition.
