By REYNALD MAGALLON
The PBA is set to play Saturday double-header games in two different locations as the league unveiled the eliminations schedule of the Season 48 Philippine Cup on Thursday, Feb. 22.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said the PBA Board of Governors and TV5 wanted to have two games even when the league is playing an out-of-town game, prompting him to schedule a 3 p.m. showdown in a venue around Manila on top of the original 6:30 p.m. Saturday schedule.
“Yung mga out-of-town games natin dati kapag out of town 6 p.m. ngayon, 3 p.m. sa Manila, 6:30 live sa probinsya so parehong live yon,” said Marcial.
The league chieftain said that the adjustment was made possible after the league secured a blocktime airing in RPTV 9 where games and PBA-related contents can be watched from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 4:30 to 10 p.m. during weekends.
The league will first have this setup on April 13 when Rain or Shine takes on Terrafirma at the Caloocan Sports Complex in Manila in the first game while TNT and NLEX lock horns in Candon, Ilocos Sur.
The April 20 out-of-town match will be between Rain or Shine and Magnolia in Tiaong, Quezon which will come after the curtain raiser between NLEX and Phoenix at the Ynares Arena-Pasig.
Aside from the new setup, the league is also coming back to its old stomping ground at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Blackwater and Rain or Shine will get their first try playing in the refurbished playing venue which now uses the 2023 FIBA World Cup flooring used at the Smart Araneta Coliseum followed by the clash between NLEX and Magnolia on April 6.
Five more game dates will be held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium during the eliminations.
The Philippine Cup formally opens shop at the Ynares Center in Antipolo with Terrafirma taking on Converge in the conference opener before a showdown between NorthPort and NLEX follows suit in the nightcap
Meanwhile, defending champion and recently crowned Commissioner’s Cup kings San Miguel begins their campaign on March 15 against Rain or Shine.
