THE upcoming 49th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will introduce significant changes poised to enhance the league’s appeal and competitiveness, according to the league commissioner Willie Marcial.
· Strengthening ties with the East Asia Super League
A key development is the PBA’s enhanced partnership with the East Asia Super League (EASL).
Following discussions between Marcial and EASL official Matt Beyer, plans are underway for a PBA team to join an EASL competition.
Additionally, an EASL squad is expected to participate in one of the three conferences planned for the upcoming season.
“Nag-meeting kahapon na ang EASL ay may isasali sa PBA. We will meet again next week on this. Pag-usapan din kung paano sasali ang PBA sa EASL,” said Marcial before the start of Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
· Return to a three-conference format
The league is set to return to a three-conference format, beginning with the Governors’ Cup as the season’s first conference.
The Commissioner’s Cup and the Philippine Cup will follow later in the year, restoring a traditional structure that fans and teams have long cherished.
· Introduction of double imports and height adjustments
Exciting changes are also planned for player rosters. The PBA is considering allowing two imports per team during the Governors’ Cup, with a height limit of 6-foot-6.
For the Commissioner’s Cup, there are discussions about eliminating height restrictions altogether, which could lead to more dynamic and diverse gameplay.
· New tournament format for the Governors’ Cup
For this year’s Governors’ Cup, the league plans to divide the teams into two pools of six. These teams will compete in a double round-robin tournament, ensuring each team plays 10 games.
The top teams from each pool will then advance to the crossover playoffs, promising a thrilling and competitive postseason.
