PBA CHAIRMAN Ricky Vargas said the league will continue to find ways to innovate after a drastic move to introduce the four-point shot for the 49th season.
Vargas said the league is considering making more rule changes in the future in order to make the game even more appealing to the fans.
“There are two or three rules that we are studying that would probably change the way basketball will be played,” said Vargas.
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“Sabi nga nila, if you do not innovate, you die. So that’s why we decided to innovate. Your PBA is going to innovate with the fans in mind,” Vargas added.
The four-point shot is the biggest change that will be implemented for the coming season. The league hopes the new rule will discourage zone defense and make the game faster.
The league also eliminated the over-the-backboard violation, limited the official suspension of play to only 15 seconds, and implemented the coaches’ hashmark where a warning will be called on the firdt violation instead of an automatic technical foul.
“Maraming mangyayari sa 49th season that we will try out,” said Vargas.
Another change to the 49th Season is the tournament format of the Governors’ Cup where 12 teams were divided into two groups. Each team plays its group mates twice.
The playoffs will begin with a best-of-five crossover quarterfinals, and a best-of-seven semifinals. The finals will be a best-of-seven.
Group A is composed of Converge, Terrafirma, NorthPort, TNT, Magnolia, and Meralco, while Group B is comprised of Blackwater, Phoenix, NLEX, Rain or Shine, Barangay Ginebra, and San Miguel.
“I think everybody has a chance. Wala nang twice-to-beat. ‘Yung twice-to-beat, nakakaniyerbos ‘yun. The one that has the twice-to-beat advantage just have to win one. Ikaw, best-of-three ka.
“Now, the teams will be given a chance. The quarterfinals, which I think is the crucial part of any tournament, best-of-five.”
“You have a better chance to adjust kasi basketball is a game of adjustments. The semis is a best-of-seven,” said Vargas.
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