THE PBA Board maps out what to expect come Season 49 as well as preparations for the lead-up to the league’s 50th anniversary celebration when it holds its annual planning session in Osaka, Japan on Sunday.
Board Chairman Ricky Vargas and Commissioner Willie Marcial lead the PBA contingent in the three-day meeting to be held in the large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu.
The planning sessions takes place a month before the new season opens shop, with Asia’s pioneering pro league returning to its regular three-conference format.
Last year, the league had to adjust its schedule and only held two conferences to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Asian Games, and FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
PBA's import-laden conferences
More or less, everything has been ironed out for the season-opening Governors’ Cup where a height limit of 6-foot-6 is required for imports.
A new format also takes place to start the season that will see the 12 teams being divided into two. The top four teams in each bracket after the group stage then battle each other in the crossover playoffs.
“Tingin kasi namin, gusto ng fans yung playoff matches. Kaya susubukan natin ito sa first conference, and then we’ll see it from there,” said Marcial on the eve of the delegation’s departure.
Up for discussion, however, will be the midseason Commissioner’s Cup where there is no height ceiling for imports.
A possible foreign guest team in Hong Kong Eastern Sports Club is also likely to see action in the same manner the Bay Area Dragons did during the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup.
Marcial and Barangay Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua are going to brief the Board on the matter after holding preliminary talks with the former ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) team last Thursday.
In attendance during the meeting at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel were HK Eastern sporting director Tony Wong, team chairman Frankie Yau, and team manager Oliver Lee. They were accompanied by East Asia Super League (EASL) CEO Henry Kerins and Philippine head Banjo Albano.
The scheduling of games should HK Eastern be given the go-signal to play as guest team will be discussed by the Board, especially with Gilas also scheduled to play in a number of qualifiers for the FIBA Asia Cup.
READ: Meralco, San Miguel fly PBA flag in EASL home-and-away Season 2
Likewise to be adjusted are the schedules of San Miguel and Meralco, both of which will represent the PBA in Season 2 of the EASL Home-and Away tournament.
PBA Live 2024
The Board will come in full attendance as it also includes vice chairman Bobby Rosales (Terrafirma), treasurer Atty. Raymond Zorilla (Phoenix), Atty. Mamerto Mondragon (Rain or Shine), Archen Cayabyab (Converge), Eric Arejola (NorthPort), Ronald Dulatre (NLEX), Robert Non (San Miguel), Rene Pardo (Magnolia), Silliman Sy (Blackwater), and Atty. William Pamintuan (Meralco).
Top officials of the PBA’s official broadcast partners Cignal TV and MediaQuest will also join the Board, as they give a postmortem on the just concluded Season 48 and bare their plans for TV coverage of the new season which reportedly will be holding more games and playdates.
MediaQuest President and CEO Jane Basas will lead the TV group along with TV5 President and CEO Guido Zaballero and First Vice President, Channels and Content Management of CignalTV Sienna Olaso.
Also on the itinerary are plans and programs for the holding of Season 50 next year and the league’s continuous support to the Gilas program.
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