A SHORTER import-reinforced conference and a week-long break in between conferences await teams in the 2021 season of the PBA if given the greenlight by the government to resume play.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the league still targeting a two-conference season this year despite the challenges to start the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marcial, however, said there will be adjustments the schedule the league initially planned for the season to finish within 2021 as much as possible.
One of the adjustments is for the second conference to be played in a single round-robin tournament instead of the double round initially approved by the board.
Another move to fast track the season is that the league plans to take a break of five to seven days in between the Philippine Cup and the Governors’ Cup.
“Kung magsisimula tayo ng June, second week or third week of June, kaya natin ang two conference, matatapos tayo ng December. Baka lumaktaw ng January. Pero magiging single round na siguro ‘yug second conference. Nung una, double round ‘yung second conference natin,” said Marcial.
“Baka in between conferences, mga five to seven days (break). Ganun kahigpit,” he added.
The PBA was supposed to open the season this April under a closed-circuit set-up with Ynares Center in Antipolo as venue, but it was called off due to the rising cases of COVID-19 that put Metro Manila and neighboring provinces including Rizal under ECQ.
The league has reached out to Malacañang this week for its request to start the season.
Barangay Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua believes the short break in between conferences is necessary.
“Magsa-sacrifice talaga. Ilang araw lang. Mga pitong araw o limang araw, start na ang second conference. ‘Yung mga na-out, ‘yun ang unang-unang maglalaro para makapagpahinga ‘yung nakapasok ng finals at semis. We are really hitting two conferences this year,” said Chua.
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