Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 9) – Filipino basketball fans are in for a treat as the Philippine Basketball Association will hold tripleheader games in the early part of its All-Filipino Conference during the league’s 46th season.
After the Inter-Agency Task Force approved the Season 46 opening on Friday, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial announced that the games will be played every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday starting at 12:30 p.m. The Sunday games, on the other hand, will commence at 2:30 p.m.
The tripleheader games will last until the start of the inaugural PBA 3×3 season, but Marcial would not give an exact date.
The PBA commissioner added the 3×3 games will be played every Saturday and Sunday mornings and the 5×5 games will be reduced to a doubleheader affair.
Marcial also affirmed their earlier commitment to play two conferences for Season 46 as they vowed to further study if holding an import-laden conference is feasible after the Philippine Cup that will end in October.
“By September, we will already look at this. One, if our government will allow the entry of foreigners? Two, if the imports want to play here? Three, how can teams switch imports since there are many quarantine protocols? We will study all these scenarios,” said Marcial.
If the import-laden conference will not be played, Marcial said another All-Filipino Conference looms and it may include Gilas Pilipinas, depending on talks with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
The PBA’s 46th season will open its curtains on July 16 at 11 a.m. in a closed circuit format at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, capped by what Marcial described as a “simple” opening ceremony.
“Teams who have no games on the opening day are not required to attend the opening ceremonies. Even the first two teams who will play (after the opening ceremony) are not allowed to enter the court at that time,” said Marcial.
The PBA is expected to release the full game schedule and lineups of the 12 teams by July 12 or 13, Marcial added.
