By REYNALD MAGALLON
The PBA has finally unveiled the groupings for the new tournament format to be introduced in the return of Governors’ Cup in the league’s 49th season set to kick off on Aug. 18.
Commissioner Willie Marcial had long revealed that the league is adopting a format where the 12 teams are divided into two groups for the elimination round.
Comprising the Group A are Philippine Cup champion Meralco and fellow powerhouses TNT and Magnolia along with NorthPort, Converge, and Terrafirma while Group B has perennial contenders Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel along with NLEX, Rain or Shine, Phoenix and Blackwater.
Under the new format, each team plays each member of their group twice with the Top 4 teams in the groups advancing to a best-of-five crossover quarterfinals. The groups’ top seeds play the other group’s lowest seeds while the No.2 take on the other’s No. 3 seeds in a best-of-five affairs.
The semifinals and finals of the season-opening conference would be in best-of-seven series. Teams however are still only allowed to tap imports no taller than 6-foot-5.
The Tropang Giga are the defending champions of the Governors’ Cup after ruling the tournament in Season 47 defeating the reigning Best Import Justin Brownlee and his Kings in the Finals.
The conference was then scrapped last season as league only played two conferences to give way for the country’s FIBA World Cup hosting.
The change of the conference format is made as part of the league’s effort to regenerate the fans interest and vigor towards the league especially that Marcial is looking to use the upcoming season to drum up the league’s 50th year in 2025.
