All-Star, new format spice up PBA Cup

A new format, an overseas game, a couple of out-of-town sorties and the All-Star Week are just some of the great things in store for the PBA fans when the league stages the PBA Gran Matador Philippine Cup beginning Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Two explosive matches pitting Air 21 against Coca-Cola and San Miguel Beer versus Alaska will usher in the nine-team conference won by Ginebra last year.

The competing teams will figure in a double-round robin with the top two teams earning automatic slots to the semis, and the third, fourth and fifth teams to the quarterfinals.

The last four teams will then face each other in a wildcard affair. For them, it will be their only chance to make it to the quarterfinals.

The quarterfinals will be a best-of-five series with the winners joining the seeded teams in the semis, a best-of-seven. The finals will also be a best-of-seven.

Early in the elimination round, Talk n Text and Purefoods will fly to Hong Kong for the PBA’s first official overseas match. It will be held March 19 at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.

The overseas game, sponsored solely by PLDT Global under Manny Pangilinan, will offer free tickets to Filipino fans in Hong Kong.

Right after the Hong Kong match, the PBA starts reaching out to its provincial fans with a game already scheduled in Cabagan, Isabela.

The All-Star Week is scheduled end of April. Once again, after Cebu and Laoag, it will be held out of town. Bidding as hosts are Puerto Princesa, Davao, Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro.