THE PBA is inserting a different flavor to the Governors’ Cup next season by revising its tournament format.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said during Wednesday’s press briefing that the Governors’ Cup will see the 12 teams be divided into two groups and will play a double round-robin elimination round within their same bracket.
With the format, each team will play 10 games in the elimination round, instead of the usual 11 when a single round-robin tournament were enforced in other conferences.
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Marcial said the tournament format of the Commissioner’s Cup and the Philippine Cup, the final two conferences of the 49th season, will remain the same.
“Single round, pero nagpapalit palit lang tayo kung twice-to-beat, ganun pa rin ‘yung Philippine Cup at Commissioner’s Cup,” said Marcial.
Governors' Cup playoff format
Deputy commissioner Eric Castro on Thursday, meanwhile, revealed additional details to the format that includes the top four teams in each group qualifying in a crossover quarterfinals, meaning the No. 1 team in each group will face the No. 4 squad of the other group, and the No. 2 of each group faces the No. 3 of the other group.
Playoffs will a bit lengthier as the quarterfinals, instead of the traditional twice-to-beat or best-of-three format, will be a best-of-five, while the semifinals and the finals will be a best-of-seven.
The composition of which group each team will be playing is still to be determined.
“The board will announce after the planning session,” said Castro, referring to the annual meeting of the league in preparation for the 49th season.
PBA board wants 'new look'
Past tournaments for the Governors’ Cup calls for all the teams to play a single round-robin with the top four teams gaining a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, with the semifinals being a best-of-five, and the finals being a best-of-seven.
Castro said there will be a total of 60 games during the elimination round. Past Governors’ Cup tournaments had 66 matches.
Marcial said the new format is part of the PBA leadership’s desire to make changes that would make the league better and more exciting in time for its 50th year.
“Tignan natin kasi going to the 50 years natin, sabi nga ni chairman (Ricky Vargas), baka puwede pa tayong magpalit ng rules, kung ano pang puwede. Talagang parang new-look ang gustong gawin ng board para sa Year 50 natin,” said Marcial.
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