MILAN—Matters concerning Gilas Pilipinas and other vital issues will be discussed on the table as the PBA Board of Governors holds its annual planning session for the league’s 45th season.
Members of the board along with commissioner Willie Marcial arrived in the Italian capital of Lombardy late Tuesday following a 16-hour trip from Manila for the three-day meeting that will also tackle the approval and mechanics of the first-ever 3×3 draft in the league, format for the season, and the scheduling of the games for the entire year in the light of the national team’s campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifying windows.
Board chairman Ricky Vargas is set to arrive on Wednesday, along with Meralco board representative Al S. Panlilio to complete the delegation that also includes key PBA officials led by legal counsel Atty. Melvin Mendoza.
Panlilio also happens to be the president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Members of the board who arrived with Marcial are Vice Chairman Bobby Rosales of Columbian Dyip, treasurer Siliman Sy of Blackwater, San Miguel’s Robert Non, Rod Franco of NLEX, Alaska’s Richard Bachmann, Atty. Mamerto Mondragon of Rain or Shine, Rene Pardo of Magnolia, Atty. Raymond Zorilla of Phoenix, and NorthPort’s Eric Arejola, and Barangay Ginebra’s Alfrancis Chua.
Foremost in the board’s agenda is again adjusting the schedule of the league for the entire season to give way to the country’s campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers whose first window will be held from Feb. 20 and 23.
A permanent Gilas coach will likely be tackled as well following the SBP’s appointment of Mark Dickel as interim mentor of the national team for the qualifiers.
Dickel, who takes over from Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone, is expected to start conducting training for the 24-man pool, with just three weeks left before Gilas kicks off its bid in the Asia Cup meet on Feb. 20 at home against Thailand and on the 23rd against Indonesia in Jakarta.
The just concluded season was one of the longest in PBA history as it had to tweak its schedule several times to help Gilas prepare for its campaign in the FIBA World Cup and the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Another high on the board’s agenda is the 3×3 meet as the league is looking to incorporate the tournament in the playing calendar this year, hopefully by the second week of April. PBA players represented the Gilas 3×3 men’s team that won the inaugural gold in the last SEA Games.
Likewise in the board itinerary is the possible changes in league rules, hosting of out of town games, the All-Star weekend, and possibly holding another game outside of the country just like the one the league held in Dubai last November.
The league’s 45th season press conference will be held on Feb. 25 followed by the second holding of Media Day on Feb. 27 leading to the season opener on March 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.