PBA tweaks schedule to give way to 2017 Fiba Asia Cup

With the 2017 Fiba Asia Cup coming up, the PBA has made slight tweaks to its schedule as it is set to take a week-long break in the season-ending 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup.

After Sunday, August 6, the league will not hold games on Wednesday (August 9) and Friday (August 11) before returning to action the following Sunday, August 13.

PBA takes another breather on the following Wednesday, August 16, before going back to its normal programming on Friday, August 18.

The PBA-backed Gilas Pilipinas squad will fly to Beirut, Lebanon on Sunday for the Asian championship where it will compete from August 8 to 20.

Through the course of the continental meet, unbeaten Meralco and cellar-dweller Kia will play thrice, NLEX, Rain or Shine, Phoenix, GlobalPort, and Blackwater to see action twice, and TNT once.

From the Fiba Asia-bound squad, Terrence Romeo, Gabe Norwood, Raymond Almazan, and Matthew Wright will miss two games for their respective teams, while Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy will be inactive for the KaTropa’s August 20 game against Rain or Shine.

“You have to understand also that it’s a big sacrifice also for the PBA. We have to play when your superstars are not there, and that affects also the attendance and the interest in the PBA,” said PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa.

“But as what is said by the teams and the owners themselves, that’s a sacrifice they asked us to make, and that’s a sacrifice we’re willing to give for the success of this program.”