The much-awaited Season 48 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is set to commence on October 15 at the iconic Smart Araneta Coliseum, with fans eagerly anticipating the return of the Bay Area Dragons for the Commissioner’s Cup.
October 15 will mark the start of the highly anticipated Season 48 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), with the Commissioner’s Cup set to tip off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. This new season comes after a delayed start, allowing PBA stalwarts to fulfill their duties with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
In full support of Gilas Pilipinas, the PBA made the sacrifice of trimming the season calendar to only two conferences. This adjustment comes after a remarkable rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic challenges in the past two seasons, which saw record-breaking numbers for the league.
PBA chairman Ricky Vargas expressed the league’s willingness to make this: “It’s a sacrifice and a challenge for the PBA, but we’re more than willing to do this in support of Gilas Pilipinas.” The PBA board planning session in the beautiful city of Paris solidified the league’s commitment to the national team.
The Commissioner’s Cup will kick off Season 48, featuring the highly anticipated return of the Bay Area Dragons. Led by legendary Australian coach Brian Goorjian, the Dragons significantly impacted their initial PBA stint. They engaged in an unforgettable championship clash with the Barangay Ginebra Kings, contributing to the record-breaking numbers enjoyed by the league last season.
In their return, the Bay Area Dragons will be limited to playing only one import, as will be the case for the rest of the teams in the Commissioner’s Cup. Previously, they had Myles Powell and Andrew Nicholson rotating as their imports, narrowly missing out on the championship. The league aims to level the playing field with this restriction, ensuring an exciting and competitive tournament.
Like previous Commissioner’s Cups, the participating teams will compete in a one-round-robin elimination format, with the top eight teams advancing to the playoffs. The top two teams will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, while teams ranked third to sixth will battle it in a best-of-three series. The semifinals will be a best-of-five matchup, leading to the highly anticipated best-of-seven finals.
Following the Commissioner’s Cup, the season will culminate with the Philippine Cup, adding another layer of excitement for PBA fans.
By limiting the conferences to two, the PBA aims to give way for Gilas Pilipinas’ preparations for the upcoming FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. This decision reflects the league’s commitment to supporting the national team’s aspirations on the international stage.
PBA fans can expect a thrilling and action-packed Season 48 as the Bay Area Dragons return and the league continues to showcase the best of Philippine basketball.