PBA slates 10-month, 3-conference season

SEOUL, South Korea—The Philippine Basketball Association will have a 10-month season starting Oct. 19 as it accommodates a 12-team field that will play three long conferences beginning with the Philippine Cup.

The league’s board of governors unanimously approved the Oct. 19 to Aug. 7 schedule that will have games scheduled at least four times a week, sometimes five, when out-of-town games are slated on Saturdays.

After the Philippine Cup—the most prestigious title staked every year—the import-flavored Commissioner’s and Governors’ Cups will be played where imports of unlimited height will be allowed for the tail-ending four teams.

The handicapping system for the Commissioner’s Cup will be determined after the elimination round standings of the Philippine Cup where the bottom four teams can enlist reinforcements of unlimited height.

The top eight teams will get imports standing no more than 6-foot-9.

In the Governors’ Cup, the combined standings of the top eight teams in the Philippine and Commissioner’s Cups will mean imports standing no taller than 6-5, with the last four allowed reinforcements of unlimited height.

KIA Motors and Blackwater Elite, the two expansion teams, will slug it out in the first game of a regular double-header at the 50,000-seat Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, on opening day.

Talk ‘N Text, which chair Patrick Gregorio represents in the board, also sees action against crowd-darling Barangay Ginebra in the second game.

“It’s going to be an exciting season with the league celebrating a milestone, it’s 40th season,” Gregorio said after the meeting at Gangnam Ambassador Novotel here.

Also on tap  is the naming of the next 15 greatest players that will complete the league’s Top 40 on April 8.

All 12 teams were represented with owner Dioceldo Sy, Silliman Sy and alternate member Wilbert Loa attending for Blackwater and Ginia Domingo representing  KIA Motors.