The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is now in talks with an interested party as it plans to add a guest team for the next season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
Commissioner Willie Marcial disclosed the development a day after the league’s Board of Governors convened in preparation for the 2024-25 competitions, although he did not reveal the identity of the entity they’re in discussions with.
“May kausap na rin kami, baka may guest team tayo sa second conference. Tingnan natin,” he said during a press briefing ahead of the Season 48 Philippine Cup Finals opener, Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Naguusap pa. Ang pinaguusapan namin schedules, logistics, players, so wala pang kongkretong usapan. Pero tinitingnan natin kung magkakaroon tayo.”
If ever the plans push through, it would be the second time in the last two seasons that Asia’s pioneering pro league will accommodate a guest team.
The 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup saw the participation of Bay Area. The Dragons went all the way to the Finals before bowing to Ginebra in seven, with the winner-take-all game drawing a record 54,589 fans at the Philippine Arena.
If things get finalized between the PBA and the foreign team, the league will allow teams to tap two imports for the conference.
The Board has already approved Marcia’s proposal to lift height restrictions for reinforcements at least for the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup, and having the liberty to add another one should be good news for all the clubs.
The last time the league implemented a two-import setup was in the 2002 season, in both the Governors’ and Commissioner’s Cup.
“Pwede naman sila magbago na mag-two imports na lagi, for this coming season. Pero as of now, bukas sila sa two imports. Sigurado ‘yun pag sumali ‘yung kausap namin, o may gustong sumali, baka mag-two imports na,” he said.
Those big plans for the next Commissioner’s Cup are just part of the Board’s gearup toward the league’s 50th anniversary set next year.
The Governors’ Cup, usually the season-ender, will usher in the new season that opens mid-August. The Commissioner’s Cup will then be played next, followed by the Philippine Cup – in time for the commemoration.
“Ginawa rin namin ‘yun para ‘yung All-Filipino, matapat sa anniversary natin,” said Marcial, who’s been the league chieftain since 2018.
“Sabi nga ni Chairman [Ricky Vargas], baka pwede tayong magpalit ng rules, kung ano pang pwede. Talagang parang new look ang gustong gawin ng board simula sa year 50 natin,” added the amiable executive.
