MANILA – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is mulling to trim the 2020 season to a two-conference format as matches of its Philippine Cup remain suspended due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said that the league’s board is scheduled to hold an online meeting to discuss PBA’s options in a season after its games and practices have been halted following the declaration of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
“The board will assess the situation and will make a thorough study kung ano ang magandang gawin,” said Marcial. He doesn’t see the league resuming anytime soon.
He added: “Ang nakikita kong pinaka-maagang balik ng PBA ay June. Kasi even if the country is able to flatten the COVID-19 curve in April or May, I have to give our teams a month of practices before we resume play.”
“Hindi natin alam kung gaano katagal tatagal ito. Sana matapos na at mawala na ang health threat. Pero hindi pa rin tayo makakabalik agad-agad,” he said. “A two- conference format is a possibility.”
Also, the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup will possibly face cancellation since its resumption will likely clash with the sporting events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the National Collegiate Association of the Philippines and other major collegiate leagues.
If cancellation of the D-League Aspirant’s Cup happens, eligibility rules for the upcoming PBA draft will need revising.
Aspiring rookies need to log a required number of games in the D-League before receiving the green light to be eligible for the draft./PN
