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PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. – FUN PHOTOS
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will once again change the schedule for next season for the national cage program.
Commissioner Willie Marcial on Friday said league leaders have agreed to extend a loan to Gilas Pilipinas for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, which will result in the opening of Season 48 being moved to October.
“Chot [Reyes] and I said and they said they want to use professionals for the Asian Games,” the league leader told the Inquirer after the Magnolia-Phoenix contest at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday night.
“So instead of a September opening, we’ll just start in October after [Asiad]. The draft will be held a month before,” he said.
The PBA has shortened the 2023 calendar in July, deciding to scratch one tournament from the usual three-conference season to accommodate Gilas’ preparations for the Asian Games in Cambodia this May, the National overseas training camps in the United States and Europe for the World Cup, and its own global exhibition in August.
Marcial said the league also wants to draw from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas July plan to pit PBA teams against visiting nations in the Philippines before the World Cup.
“Most of the PBA stars will be Gilas and we will not have imports at that time. So, we will give way and allow the fans to watch the National Team match – from what I heard four to six teams – before the main tournament,” he said.
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