MANILA, Philippines - Bagamat plano na ang pagbabalik ng isang three-conference format para sa darating na 36th season ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), wala pang malinaw na ‘rules’ para sa ikatlong torneo.
Ito ang sinabi kahapon ni PBA chairman Rene Pardo ng Derby Ace sa lingguhang PSA sports forum sa Shakey’s sa U.N. Avenue kasama si outgoing PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios.
Ang unang torneo ng 36th PBA season ay ang Philippine Cup na sisimulan sa Oktubre, habang ang ikalawa ay ang Fiesta Conference na magpaparada sa mga imports.
“Hindi pa final yung rules about the last conference, pinipinahan pa lang namin yan. Although there are suggestions to make it a handicapping conference based on the results of the first two conferences,” ani Pardo.
Kumpiyansa si Pardo na hindi makakaapekto sa pagbabalik ng three-conference format ang ekonomiya ng bansa.
“Holding three conferences may be going over our budget, but then again, what we noticed is that the crowd usually comes in during the playoffs,” ani Pardo. “So that means, you will have three playoffs in one season alone, meaning you’ll be able to bring in more crowd and sponsors.”
Sa nakaraang 35th season, ipinagmalaki ni Barrios na nakakuha ang professional league ng total gross gate receipts na P75.3 milyon kumpara sa P70.7 milyon noong 34th season.
“Based on those figures alone, we really exceeded our target this season,” sabi ni Barrios, nakatakdang palitan ni incoming Commissioner Atty. Chito Salud.
Sa katatapos na 2009-2010 Fiesta Conference na pinagharian ng Alaska kontra dating kampeong San Miguel, kumita ang liga ng P37 milyon sa gross gate receipts.