Four powerhouse teams are featured in a twinbill that will usher the restart of the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) 45th Season under its own version of the bubble format.
To be played at the purpose-built Angeles University Foundation (AUF) Gym in Angeles, Pampanga, the first game of the PBA restart is the clash between TNT Tropang Giga versus the retooled Alaska Aces at 4 p.m.
The Tropang Giga will parade a new big man in Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Poy Erram, who was acquired by the Giga from sister team NLEX Road Warriors.
This is followed by the 6:45 pm main tiff between Erram’s former team NLEX and the league’s popular ballclub Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, who will play for the first time without its vaunted “Sixth Man” or the big Ginebra faithful that almost always flock to its games.
Games during the elimination period will be played with daily double-headers. Come the postseason, games will be played under the usual PBA playing days of Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
As with all other teams, players’ conditioning and teamwork will be the key test this season. All teams will be playing competitive basketball for the first time after a long layoff due to restrictions imposed against mass gatherings, particularly sporting events.
It has been almost seven months since the league opened that featured a lone game between San Miguel Beer and sister-team Magnolia Hotshots, which the Beermen won.
The season is seen to end by early December.
(Photo credit: ph.news.yahoo.com)