WITH the PBA throwing its all-out support behind Gilas Pilipinas’ campaigns in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and FIBA World Cup by taking lengthy offseason break, fans can still watch their cage heroes play.
The pro league’s first-ever PBA preseason “On Tour” is set to kick off on May 21, with NLEX taking on Blackwater at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
PBA chief Willie Marcial said the move to hold a preseason tilt is for the fans.
“Hinto ang regular games pero ilalaro natin itong mga larong ito para ipakita pa rin natin ang mga players and teams natin sa fans,” Marcial said. “Kasamang mapapanood nila ang mga possible rookies sa parating na PBA season.
“Puwede ang rookie aspirants, but they can only play for one team in this PBA on Tour series. Hindi puwedeng patalon-talon o palipat-lipat,” he added.
The innovative event will showcase the 12 teams, with their regular players, free agents and rookie aspirants, in various venues in Metro Manila and nearby provinces while the regular season is on hold.
The ball clubs will play 11 games each in a series of exhibition matches where the league experiments proposed new game rules.
Games will be played Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with out-of-town sorties slated on Saturdays. The games will be shown on One Sports on Cignal TV.
The teams will be allowed to list 17 players with 16 to play per game.
Regular venue is the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, but the PBA on Tour will be holding tiffs as far as Dumaguete City in the Visayas.
The series will also have stops in Bulacan, Batangas and Quezon as it hops over to university gyms like University of Santo Tomas and Olivarez College.
The pro league’s 48th season will open shop sometime in October.
PBA players spearhead Gilas’ drives for redemption in the Cambodia Games, a fighting showing in the World Cup and breakthrough in the Asiad in China.
