Foreign-flavored pocket meet in the offing in long, PBA golden season

The PBA is planning to host a mini-tournament involving foreign teams when the league goes into a long season break to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and 20th Asian Games.

Commissioner Willie Marcial said the Season 50 schedule will be disrupted midway as the national team plays on the road during the qualifiers, before proceeding to Nagoya, Japan for the Asiad where Gilas is the defending men’s basketball champion.

Gilas will be playing in New Zealand and Australia on July 3 and 6, respectively, while the Asiad is set from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

National team coach Tim Cone has asked the league to give Gilas at least a 10-day training for each tournament as part of its preparation.

By his assessment, Marcial said there will be no scheduled PBA games for at least 40 days.

“So pasimula dun sa window (qualifier), maglalaro sila sa New Zealand and Australia. Tapos mga ilang araw, kaysa maglagay ako ng dalawang game days, ipapa-diretso ko na para sa Asian Games,” Marcial shared at the start of the 2025 PBA Media Day presented by Arena Plus at the Elements of Centris.

The two-day event is also supported by Don Benito’s, Yellow Cab, Better Blend, CURVE coffee collaborators, Fitbar, Buffalo’s, Hungry Daddy, Daily Fantasy and World Balance.

That’s when the league plans to put up a pocket tournament featuring all 12 teams and two foreign clubs.

He disclosed there is also a proposal to offer a prize money for the champion.

“Hindi pa na desisyunan yan, pero baka lagyan natin ng prize money para maganda,” said Marcial.