PBA looking to stage 3×3 to open 46th season

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

The Philippine Basketball Association {PBA} is looking into the possibility of staging its inaugural 3×3 league first than the 5-on-5 Philippine Cup.

As the ongoing cases of COVID-19 still affect the Philippines, commissioner Willie Marcial bared that the timetable for the return of the Philippine Cup is still certain.

The PBA board is currently working on the 3×3 debut as it needs lesser personnel inside the playing court and is easier to handle given the half-court setting of the game.

“Right now, we’re really pushing for the 3×3 to happen even sooner than the regular 5-on-5 because we believe it would be easier to start the 3×3 since there are fewer personnel involved,” PBA vice chairman Bobby Rosales said.

All PBA teams will be fielding their respective 3×3 squads except Alaska and Blackwater with the inclusion of six guest teams in the Zamboanga Valientes, Master Sardines, Geanaux Systems Corporation, Big Boss Cement, Pioneer Epoxy, and Phenom BRT Sumisip.

However, for the season to push through, the COVID-19 vaccination of all 3×3 personnel including the players and coaches should take place.

“This still hinges on the vaccination program that we will be able to conduct, which the commissioner is working on,” added Rosales.