THE Philippine Basketball Association has moved the opening of its 48th season from Oct. 15 to Nov 5, 2023 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial has moved the opening of the 48th PBA season to Nov. 5 from the supposed opening date on Oct. 15 to give the players who will be participating in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China enough time to recover.
Marcial, who is also the concurrent assistant team manager of the Gilas Pilipinas for the quadrennial meet, said the move would also allow the teams to also better prepare for the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Ibigay natin sa mga player para makapagpahinga at para sa mga teams makapag-practice maigi,” said Marcial on Monday, Sept. 11, during the Gilas practice at the PhilSports Arena.
The draft combine scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 12 and 13, will go on as scheduled at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong as well as the PBA Rookie Draft on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Market! Market! In Taguig City.
Even with the adjustment of the opening day, the first conference is still expected to end as scheduled in February.
Marcial added that the league had some leeway in adjusting its schedule since it will no longer have to accommodate the inclusion of Bay Area Dragons which already announced its pull out from the PBA.
