It’s going to be a stacked Season 48 for the PBA.
A series of activities is set to kick off the league’s new season starting with the regular rookie draft on Sept. 17 at the Ayala Malls Market! Market! and culminating with the opening of the Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Oct. 15.
In between, there will be the Draft Combine at the Gatorade Hoops on Sept. 12 and 13, a fun run on Sept. 24 at Bridgetown estate in Pasig, formal presscon on Oct. 10, and the traditional Media Day on Oct. 12.
Commisioner Willie Marcial bared the PBA’s calendar of events as he graced the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum Tuesday at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
The hectic event prior to the season is expected to usher what would be a packed six-month timetable for Asia’s pioneering pro league which offers only two instead of its regular three conferences after adjusting its schedule to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games.
“Dire-diretso ang liga aabutin tayo ng April, kasi yung finals ng Commissioner’s Cup matatapos yan ng February. Then seven to 10 days magsisimula na agad yung Phiippine Cup,” said Marcial in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
The Commissioner’s Cup will have imports with a height ceiling of 6-foot-9 and below and features the returning Bay Are Dragons, runner-up to Barangay Ginebra in last year’s edition of the tournament.
A number of games are being scheduled in Hong Kong, where the Dragons are now based.
“We will have three games sa Hong Kong and meron nang teams kung sino ang maglalaro pero hindi ko pa masabi ngayon dahil nag-uusap pa kami ni Matt Beyer (Bay Area Dragons manager), pero 80 percent sure na yan,” added Marcial.
Out of town matches will be incorporated anew in the season as part of the league’s official games following its successful staging during the preseason On Tour, where the PBA played in Tiaong, Quezon, Baliwag, Bulacan, Batangas City, and Dumaguete City.
Marcial disclosed around 15 provinces have offered to host PBA games this season, but would be considering first those who already hosted the league during the On Tour.
“Dahan-dahanin muna natin. Tignan natin,” said the commissioner.
Prior to the All-Filipino conference, the league will also hold its All-Star weekend in Bacolod City.
And despite the packed calendar, Marcial said the PBA remains in total support for the campaign of Gilas Pilipinas in the World Cup and Asiad in Hangzhou, China.
“Patuloy ang suporta natin sa Gilas for the Asian Games. Hindi pa namin alam kung sinong players ang gagamitin ng team, kung yun pa ring Gilas today (for the World Cup) or magbabago pa ng mga players. Depende pa sa usapan with coach Chot (Reyes),” said the commissioner.
The Asiad is set Sept. 23 to Oct 8.