Twelve teams are currently competing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and that number won’t change in the league’s 50th season.
That’s the assurance made by no less than Commissioner Willie Marcial amid rumors that the sale of the Terrafirma franchise has fallen through.
“Ina-assure ko sa inyo: sa 50th season, 12 teams pa rin tayo,” the amiable exec told Tiebreaker Times shortly after the Season 49 Philippine Cup pre-Finals press conference at the Chardonnay Events Hall by Astoria in Pasig, Friday.
(C) Valientes
However, Tiebreaker Times learned from sources closely monitoring the situation that the said discussions are no longer pushing through.
With that, it remains to be seen if there will be another entity coming in to take the place of the Valientes, who once competed in the now-defunct PBA 3×3 in a rather forgettable stint as they lost all of their 24 games before dropping out.
Marcial declined to comment any further regarding the Terrafirma sale’s real status, although he disclosed that the PBA Board of Governors is set to put their heads together next Thursday to discuss matters related to the Dyip.
“May board meeting kami sa Thursday, paguusapan namin sa board. Magre-report din si Governor Bobby Rosales ng Terrafirma,” he said.
“Alam ko na anong pangyayari. Pero kailangan iyon, masabi muna sa board at kung anong desisyon. Baka mali ang masabi ko, tapos hindi naman sang-ayon ang board,” added the league chieftain as he takes a cautious approach.
A press conference will be held once the Board comes up with the decision, according to Marcial, the date and time of which to be announced soon.
#WATCH: Commissioner Willie Marcial reveals the PBA board will soon convene to decide the fate of the Terrafirma franchise 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA2025 pic.twitter.com/U5XPK0zt8n
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) July 11, 2025
