THE 2019-2020 PBA season will run until January after the board decided to suspend play twice to give way to the national team's particpation in the Fiba World Cup and the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
The league will end its Commissioner’s Cup, at the latest, on August 23 before Team Pilipinas competes in the Fiba World Cup set August 31 to September 15 in China. As a result, the Governors’ Cup will begin on September 20.
The PBA will also take a break during the Governors’ Cup from November 29 to December 15 owing to the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 SEA Games.
Because of that, the semifinal round of the conference will end, at the latest, on December 22 and the Governors’ Cup finals will be held from January 3 to 17.
As part of the adjustments, the Commissioner’s Cup will begin immediately after the conclusion of the Philippine Cup, either on May 17 or 19, depending on when the Philippine Cup will finish.
“Supreme sacrifice talaga ito sa PBA,” said PBA chairman Ricky Vargas after Friday’s board meeting. “It’s a very unusual year. One for the Fiba and the other for the Southeast Asia Games. The calendar of the PBA will really stretch to next year.”
Vargas, however, doesn’t mind the lengthy season as they accommodated Team Pilipinas as much as they can.
“It’s a happy problem for the PBA kasi we just want to show you how committed the PBA is to the Philippine team to Gilas. That’s what we are going to do,” said Vargas.
Vargas added the PBA may have a difficulty in accommodating Team Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao’s plan to compete in the Jones Cup on July 13 to 21 as it will be held during the PBA season.
“The Jones Cup may not be really that effective but of course, the coach will have to react to that. Very disruptive also to the PBA,” said Vargas.
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