PBA board agrees to shorten season due to COVID-19 crisis

By Jonas Terrado

The PBA Board of Governors agreed on Tuesday to shorten the 45th season to one or two conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to affect the country.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said a two-conference season is the most logical option at this point, though the calendar could be reduced to a single tournament should the current crisis lingers.

“The leaning of the board right now is two conferences. Pero kapag humaba pa ang current situation, baka maging isang conference na lang,” Marcial said after a video conference participated by 11 of 12 team governors.

The decision came after the government earlier in the day extended the enhanced community quarantine imposed throughout Luzon until April 30. Marcial had eyed June as the earliest time for the league to resume.

A shortened calendar will mean that the PBA won’t be holding its traditional three-conference season for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign.

The PBA has been holding a three-conference season from 1975 to 2005, with the exception of 1981 which had two tournaments due to the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games.

The league shifted to a two-conference season from 2006 to 2010 to give way to the Philippines’ participation in FIBA-sanctioned competitions before reverting back to the usual three conferences.

The only thing that can be speculated is the arrangement surrounding the schedule, format and contracts with league sponsors and television partner TV5.

But everything remains cloudy until the situation improves.

Source: Manila Bulletin