PBA keeps busy during break

MANILA, Philippines — The PBA will go on the road for a series of provincial exhibition games during the Asian Games break then returns to action in the Governors Cup on October 7. There were initial plans of staging a pocket tournament even involving a foreign squad but the schedule was too tight, leaving only the options of road trips and campus visits for team practices.

The Governors Cup reeled off last July 10, and 50 games were held until August 14. A twinbill at the Ynares Montalban last August 9 was postponed due to rains. Rescheduled are the TNT-Titan and Macau-San Miguel Beer contests to October 23 at Ynares Antipolo. Hostilities will be resumed on October 7 up to November 8 then the league takes another break on November 9 to December 3 to give way to preparations for the fifth FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window, where Gilas plays Syria on November 27 and Iran on November 30.  The PBA will return for the semifinals from December 4-13 and the finals form December 16-30.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the road trip was conceived “in our continued effort to further promote our PBA member teams and strengthen brand awareness during our break.” Five games are set in the series called “PBA On Tour” with NLEX-Blackwater at the San Jose Del Monte Sports Complex, Bulacan on September 9; San Miguel Beer-Phoenix in Ilagan City, Isabela on September 12; Meralco-Converge in Santiago City; Isabela on September 13; Magnolia-NLEX in Batangas City on September 19; and TNT-Rain or Shine in Candon, Ilocos Sur on September 26.

The “PBA On Tour” will feature exhibition games and there will be no champion.  “Considering that these are tune-up games, we will allow our teams to field in their practice or uncontracted players,” said Marcial. PBA operations director Eric Castro said teams are given the discretion to play or not play their imports.  NLEX has two games where the Road Warriors will likely break in new import Deonte Burton, who worked with coach Jimmy Alapag in the NBA and NBA G-League.

Castro said the league is also exploring the option of holding team practices in Metro Manila schools. Among the schools on the list for possible campus visits are St. Clare College in Caloocan, NU, PUP, Jose Rizal University, De La Salle University and College of St. Benilde.