PBA Governors' Cup set for Dec. 8 opening

Ginebra finally gets to defend the PBA Governors' Cup title. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—The PBA Governors' Cup is finally set.

Commissioner Willie Marcial announced on Monday that the second conference of the league's 5-on-5 season will begin on Dec. 8.

The first two playdates of the league's second conference for the season will take place at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Despite Metro Manila being placed under Alert Level 2 in terms of the COVID-19 situation, the opening games of the PBA Governors' Cup will be held behind closed doors for now.

However, Marcial said that he is now working with some Metro Manila local government units in finally making the games available for a live audience.

"Kasalukuyan tayong nakikipagusap mga LGUs at tayo ay umasa na mapagbibigyan ang ating kahilingan na pahintulutang makapasok at makapanood ang ating mga fans ng laro," Marcial said.

Marcial added that he is scheduled to meet the Pasay City government on Wednesday to discuss how the crowd attendance should look like in the said city.

The PBA bared that it is eyeing the Mall of Asia Arena as its Pasay arena for the Governors' Cup.

Interestingly enough, the said indoor stadium is also set to host the MPBL Invitational from Dec. 11-23, possibly making the arena only available for PBA by Christmas.

Some other arenas tipped to host PBA games for the Governors' Cup are the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City, and the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Under Alert Level 2, which is also in effect in Rizal—thus, the inclusion of the Ynares Center in the arenas under consideration—sports leagues can allow fully vaccinated fans to watch their games live at a 50-percent arena capacity limit.

Ginebra was the last team to win it all in the Governors' Cup on January 2020, although it was part of the PBA's 44th season.

The league only held the Philippine Cup, which was finished inside a bubble in Angeles, for Season 45 due to the pandemic.

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