Two of the Philippine Basketball Association’s much-awaited events will now take place online.
The PBA will host the Season 45 Special Awards Night and Season 46 Rookie Draft ceremonies through online video conferencing means.
The Special Awards Night will take place on January 17, while the Rookie Draft will happen on March 14. It will be broadcasted on TV5, PBA Rush, One Sports, and all online platforms of the league.
Unlike past seasons, the annual Leo Awards will not take place for Season 45 due to the special nature of the tournament. Given the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the tournament was held in a bubble in Pampanga.
The PBA will honor the Best Player of the Conference, Outstanding Rookie, Special Team, All-Defensive Team, Most Improved Player, and the Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award.
On the other hand, Robinsons Place, Manila – the host of the Rookie Draft for the last nine years – will not host the annual draft due to quarantine restrictions on mass gatherings.
The league will only finalize a possible Gilas Draft after the January 27 deadline for applicants.
The PBA is looking at the possibility of still holding a Draft Combine, just as the Women’s National Basketball League did last December at the Victoria Sports Complex in Quezon City.
