The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is currently in discussions regarding its plans to hold 2023 Commissioner’s Cup games in Hong Kong.
Commissioner Willie Marcial mentioned that the league is ’80 percent’ certain about playing in Hong Kong, but the finer details are still being worked out in collaboration with East Asia Super League (EASL) CEO Matt Beyer.
“Pinaguusapan pa namin ni Mr. Matt Beyer,” he told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, Tuesday. “Itong darating na conference, baka maglaro sa Hong Kong. ‘Di pa talaga finalized pero 80 percent, maglalaro.”
Including Hong Kong in the league’s plans for Season 48 became a reality after Bay Area announced its intention to establish the city as its home starting this August.
Making a return to the import-laden conference for the second consecutive time, the Dragons will host their home games at Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai. They will also spend parts of their 2023-24 season in Manila.
During this period, they will host Ginebra, the reigning Commissioner’s Cup champions, Ryukyu, the 2022-23 Japan B.League titlists, and Seoul SK, the 2022-23 Korean Basketball League runners-up, for Season 2 of the EASL.
Furthermore, several PBA teams are expected to participate in the upcoming conference, and the league will reveal the details once they are finalized.
“Kung OK na, masasabi namin ‘yung tatlong teams,” Marcial told the weekly Forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, the Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and PAGCOR.
Marcial and his team are also discussing plans to reintroduce out-of-town games during the regular season, which is set to commence on October 15.
Marcial mentioned that around 15 entities have expressed their interest in hosting games in various provinces. He added that priority might be given to those who hosted the PBA during the recently concluded On Tour event.
“May labinlima na gusto tayo maglaro out-of-town, titingnan natin. Baka unahin natin ‘yung mga nagpalaro sa atin nung On Tour,” he said as the league held preseason games in Batangas and Dumaguete. “Dahan-dahanin natin.”
