THE PBA is prepared to conduct a shortened season for 2020 as the league contemplates on holding a bubble for its 45th season.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the league is already looking at holding either a one-month or two-month Philippine Cup depending on when and how the season will resume, one option of which is to hold a bubble similar to the NBA system.
The PBA initially eyed holding the Philippine Cup without any changes to its format, but it has become apparent for the league to make adjustments as the coronavirus pandemic continues to drag on.
“May nakaplano na kami. Nagpagawa na ako ng shortened at full conference na laro. Ipe-present pa rin namin sa board. Meron tayong [hinahabol] na appearance ng mga teams kada conference. Kailangan pag-usapan ‘yun,” said Marcial.
The shortening of the season has become apparent especially with plans of creating a bubble to minimize or even eliminate the risk of the players contracting COVID-19. The length of the season will also be a factor for the PBA as the bubble is expected to entail huge costs for the league and its teams.
The PBA is searching for options of where to hold the bubble. Venues such as the Smart-Araneta Coliseum and as far as Dubai have now been mentioned as possible sites for the bubble.
Marcial, however, said holding games every day during the shortened season might face television conflicts.
“Ang problema ko, ‘yung araw-araw, ang binibigay kasi ng TV5, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Siguro puwede tayong mag-araw-araw pero hindi sa TV5. Nandyan ‘yung ONE Sports, ‘yung PBA Rush, ‘yung Cignal. Marami pang pag-uusapan,” said Marcial.
“Kung Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, two months. Pero kung araw-araw ‘yun, kaya namin ng isang buwan ‘yun. Ang problema ‘yung coverage,” said Marcial.
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