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Shortened PBA season now in place after online board meeting

A shortened season is now in place for the PBA. PBA Media Group (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--A shorter PBA season is looming as the league's board resolved to implement the schedule change after an online meeting on Tuesday.

"The leaning of the board right now is two conferences. Pero kapag humaba pa ang current situation, baka maging isang conference na lang," said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial in a news release by the PBA website.

Only NorthPort governor Erick Arejola was not present in the said meeting that was also attended by the ManCom of the commissioner's office as he is grieving the passing of his grandmother.

Should the initial plan push through, this will be the first time that only two championships will be on the line for the season since the 2009-2010 season, the last year of Sonny Barrios' tenure as commissioner.

When Chito Salud took over the following season, he revived the old three-conference format in hopes of minimizing non-bearing games involving also-ran squads.

Meanwhile, a single-tournament season, similar to what the NBA and the MPBL are imposing, is now not a far-fetched idea especially if the situation worsens.

"The board is also concerned with the welfare of the fans, the employees and the players," Marcial added.

Only one game was played so far in the season, the San Miguel-Magnolia match on March 8, which was a Philippine Cup, that is, an all-Filipino, tiff.

The final decision on which format will be used will be determined once the board convenes anew sometime after the enhanced community quarantine, which was extended earlier Tuesday, is expected to be lifted on April 30.

Marcial said on Sunday that the league may resume playing as soon as June.

[Related Story: PBA commish Marcial sees resumption of games by June; 2-conference season possible]

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