The PBA will only release the initial schedule of Season 46 on Monday, but a tough grind ahead should be expected once the cage wars start on July 16.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said that the league will play triple-header games right from the get-go at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
“Triple-header tayo,” he said in a virtual press conference, Friday.
“Ang games natin Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.”
The fourth-year league chief said that they came up with such a set-up to give the league enough time to sort matters should problems arise in the second conference, which is planned to be laced with imports.
“Kaya natin ginawang triple-header ‘to, para … napaliit natin ‘yung conference just in case may problema,” Marcial said.
“Kasi, ‘yung second conference, baka magka-problema. So ina-anticipate natin. Kung may mangyayari, may araw tayo. Kesa baka umabot tayo ng Marso. So yun ang naisip namin.”
Weekend games, though, could be reduced to twin bills should the long-delayed PBA 3×3 start a month after the opening rites.
“Triple-header tayo lagi. Pwera lang ‘pag pumasok after a month ang 3×3.
“‘Pag pumasok na po ang 3×3, double-header na lang tayo kasi maglalaro po ang 3×3,” explained the amiable executive.
The 3×3 format of the league will follow the standard FIBA World Tour pro circuit format.
Saturdays will see the 16 teams broken up into four groups. The top two teams in each group will advance to Sunday’s crossover knockout playoffs.
There will be five legs for the first conference of PBA 3×3.
The 3×3 games will be held in the morning still at the Ynares Sports Arena.
“Ynares ‘yun, umaga. Umaga bago tayo mag-laro. Sabado’t Linggo ‘yun — ‘yun ang requirement ni FIBA, back-to-back na araw,” Marcial said.
“Palagay ko magsisimula tayo ng mga 8 or 9? Dire-diretso na ‘yun hanggang gabi, ‘pag Sabado-Linggo — ‘pag nandiyan na ‘yung 3×3.”
