Two games in Dubai, the shopping haven in the United Arab Emirates, and four provincial sorties highlight the schedule of the season-ending PBA Governors’ Cup that opens on May 5 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Rain or Shine, in the Finals of the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup opposite Talk ‘N Text, plays on consecutive days against Globalport and Barangay Ginebra, respectively, from May 21.
This will mark the first time since 2012 that the league will play official games abroad after the Tropang Texters battled the Elasto Painters and the Gin Kings also in Dubai.
The provincial games will have the league traveling in deep south in Panabo, Davao del Norte for the Alaska-San Miguel Beer tussle on June 20.
Bacolod, Angeles in Pampanga and Dipolog City will be the other cities where the league will stage games.
The elimination round will end on June 24 with a double header featuring KIA Motors against Meralco and NLEX clashing with Barangay Ginebra with only the top eight teams advancing to the first round of the playoffs.
Blackwater, KIA, Barako Bull and Globalport, with the worst cumulative records in the Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup, will have the privilege of signing up imports of unlimited height.
All the other teams will be allowed reinforcements of 6-foot-5 and below.
The Energy will be parading Liam McMorrow while the Elite, who failed to make it past the eliminations in both conferences, will be bringing back Marcus Douthit.
KIA, the surprise package in the Commissioner’s Cup, will be recalling man-mountain PJ Ramos even as all the teams are allowed to enlist imports of Asian descent standing no more than 6-foot-3.
Marqus Blakely will be coming back to help Purefoods keep the only title remaining in its Grand Slam season last year.
Andre Emmit will be suiting up for Meralco while Rob Jones will reinforce NLEX.
Douthit and the Elite get the ball rolling at 4:15 p.m. on May 5 against the Aces, while the Bolts battle the Batang Pier in the 7 p.m. game.