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| Meralco and Magnolia will open the new PBA season. PBA Images (file photo) |
MANDALUYONG—A showdown between Meralco and Magnolia will kick off the PBA's new season on Sunday night.
As announced by the league on Wednesday, moments before the league's board of governors called for a press conference at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, the Bolts, the recently crowned Philippine Cup champions, and the Hotshots will clash in the opening game of the 2024-2025 calendar at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City at 7:30 p.m.
As with the annual tradition, an opening ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. featuring the Leo Awards and the presentation of all the 12 teams.
In hopes of finishing the season-opening Governors' Cup in time for the November window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, games for the group stages will be played six nights a week from Tuesday to Sunday.
Blackwater and Rain Or Shine open the first Tuesday doubleheader also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at 5 p.m. before the 7:30 p.m. clash between NorthPort and TNT, the conference's defending champion.
On Wednesday night, Converge and Terrafirma will open the festivities at 5 p.m., while Phoenix and San Miguel collide in the second game at 7:30 p.m.
The NLEX Road Warriors begin their season against the Bossing at 5 p.m. Thursday, before the 7:30 p.m. game between the Tropang Giga and the Bolts.
As previously announced, Barangay Ginebra's season will begin on a Saturday night clash against the Elasto Painters at the Candon City Arena.
Action will shift to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila beginning with an Aug. 28 doubleheader tipping off with the Meralco-Terrafirma game at 5 p.m. and NLEX-ROS clash at 7:30 p.m.
The PBA will have another stop at the Aquilino Pimentel International Convention Center in Cagayan De Oro on Aug. 31 with a game between the Beermen and the Road Warriors.
The following Saturday, the Bolts and the Hotshots will face off again, this time at the Panabo City Gym.
The elimination round will run until Sept. 23.
Because they have been placed in different groups, Magnolia and Ginebra will not have a showdown in the eliminations and may only collide in the playoffs.
Teams will play a double-round-robin group stage within their groups.
The top four teams from each group will face off in the crossover playoffs from the best-of-five quarterfinals to the semifinals and finals, both latter phases being seven-game series.
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