PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
ANTIPOLO—The PBA will have each team tap one import of unlimited height for the midseason staging of the Commissioner’s Cup which will see the likely participation of Hong Kong Eastern.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed the decision even as the league is finalizing details for Eastern to take part in the second conference as a guest team.
“We’ve discussed our import setup and our rules with Eastern and they agreed to play within our regulations,” Marcial said prior to Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal decider between Converge and San Miguel Beer at Ynares Center here.
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Marcial had hinted before the end of last season that the PBA could allow two imports per ballclub if a guest team, later determined as Eastern, plays in the Commissioner’s Cup.
But with the one-import rule in place, Eastern can only select from one of its two imports that it will field for the East Asia Super League.
It was the same setup that was dealt to the defunct Bay Area Dragons in the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup when Myles Powell and Andrew Nicholson shared responsibilities during the team’s run to the Finals.
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Meanwhile, plans of holding PBA games in Hong Kong where Eastern can play before its home fans have been shelved for the midseason tournament.
Marcial said the staging of games in the former British colony could be held next year as Eastern wants to have a two-year commitment to take part in the Commissioner’s Cup.