FILE PHOTO: PBA Season 45 Opening last March 8, 2020 before the league was shut down by COVID-19. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Looking to regain its losses two seasons ago, the Philippine Basketball Association will reverting to its traditional three-conference setup when its 47th season unfurls next month.
No less than league chair Ricky Vargas delivered the announcement in a virtual press briefing where he was joined by commissioner Willie Marcial, vice chair Bobby Rosales and new treasurer Raymond Zorilla.
“We’re going back to three conferences. Details on that would be discussed later,” said Vargas, who like Rosales, was recently re-elected to his post during the league leadership’s recent planning.
The Philippine Cup, the pioneering pro league’s centerpiece tournament, is pencilled to begin on June 5. It is expected to run, barring any hitches, until September 2.
The league will then plunge into a month-long break to allow the national cage program to tap into its bevy of aces for the Asian Games in China.
The Commissioner’s Cup, which hasn’t been played in two years, will be held starting October 2 while the season-ending Governors’ Cup in February 2023, with the league looking to fulfill its commitments with the East Asia Super League sometime between those two tournaments.
Also being considered is an All-Star showcase, which was also last played the season before the global health crisis struck.