The PBA might soon be holding games abroad again, just like before.
Commissioner Willie Marcial revealed that the league is looking to hold around two to three games overseas in the 44th season, as they have done numerous times in the past.
The last time the PBA played its games on foreign soil was in 2015 in Dubai. Back then, the Alaska Aces faced the Mahindra Floodbuster and crowd darlings Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
The PBA initially set games in Guam on January 19, but that has reportedly been scrapped, as games for that date will now be held at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Arrangements for the All-Star festivities are already finalized, as this year’s week-long event will be held in Calasiao, Pangasinan, where the league holds its Saturday Special games.
Given that, the league will now veer away from the format of the previous two seasons, where the festivities are held at three different legs in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The format for this year has yet to be determined.
The league has also made adjustments to its governing rules, as it will now adapt to the new FIBA rules regarding timeouts, goaltending, and the much-debated traveling violations.
The international federation has made some tweaks just recently. A goaltending violation can now be reviewed at any point of the game, while coaches may now call timeouts verbally.
And ultimately, FIBA has redefined how traveling violations are called – players are now given a gather step, unlike before where they had to dribble the ball first before moving.
