By REYNALD MAGALLON
The PBA might see an influx of towering imports come next season as the league finally abolished the height limit in the Commissioner’s Cup.
That, along with other plans including the return of the league’s three-conference format were discussed during the PBA board meeting on Tuesday, June 4 where commissioner Willie Marcial laid out his initial plans for the league’s 49th season.
Finally getting the approval of the board, PBA teams are now allowed to tap imports taller than the previous 6-foot-10 height limit, opening doors to the possibility of the likes of former Gilas Pilipinas center Andray Blatche and NBA veteran Dwight Howard to finally play in the league.
It can be recalled that both Howard and Blatche have long expressed their interest to play in the PBA.
Aside from the removal of the height limit, one big adjustment is also in store for the Governor’s Cup which will now be the opening conference of the next season.
While the board has decided to keep the 6-foot-6 limit for imports, the PBA is set to introduce a new format where the 12 teams are divided into two groups.
Each team will play a double round robin eliminations, ensuring that they will get at least 10 games before the Top 4 teams figure in a crossover playoffs.
The Philippine Cup remains the same except that the crowning jewel of the three conferences is now the season-ending tournament.
The rescheduling of the conferences, meanwhile, is done for the PBA teams to adapt to the inter-league tournaments like the East Asia Super League and Basketball Champion League Asia.
With the two-import flavored conferences being played first, teams which will serve as representatives to these tournaments will get enough time to develop their chemistry with the reinforcements – a problem that has plagued PBA teams performances particularly in the EASL.
The recent adjustments of the PBA is part of the league’s efforts to regenerate the fans interest and vigor towards the league especially that Marcial is looking to use the next season to drum up the league’s 50th year in 2025.
