THE PBA is breaking tradition for the coming Governors Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco.
Game One of the best-of-seven title series has been moved to Jan. 7, marking the first time in a long while the league will be holding game on a Tuesday.
The finals was originally set on Wednesday, Jan..8.
Officials and coaches of both teams pointed out the small time to rest and prepare in between the first two games of the series, especially with Game 2 set on Friday in Lucena City.
Game 1 will still be played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, though.
"Both teams pointed out yung small amount of time para magpahinga at mag-prepare for Game 2 which is a Friday kung ang start ng finals is Wednesday," said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on Thursday.
"And yung sa Lucena [game] hindi na rin namin mai-move dahil matagal ng kasado yan," he added. "Ngayon kung mag-a-adjust kami pababa, magugulo yung buong schedule ng finals. Kaya ang pinaka-feasible talaga is to adjust pataas, and that is to play Game 1 on a Tuesday."
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone has already aired his side about it shortly after the Kings booked a finals berth in the season-ending conference with a 3-1 semis series win over NorthPort.
"Its not the game [in Lucena] itself that's the problem. It's the preparation time that you have coming back and the effort that you put in going on a bus there and bus back. It really depletes your energy going into the next game," said Cone.
"And it makes the next game much harder. Not the game itself, its the next game that's harder."
The rest of the title series remains as it is, including Games 6 and 7, if necessary at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
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