2020 PBA season
The 2020 PBA season is the 45th season of the Philippine Basketball Association.
 2020 PBA season | |
| Duration | March 8 – 11, 2020 (suspended) |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| TV partner(s) | Local: One Sports 5 One Sports PBA Rush (HD) International: AksyonTV International Online: ESPN Player |
| Draft | |
| Top draft pick | Isaac Go[n 1] |
| Picked by | Columbian Dyip |
| Conferences | |
| Philippine Cup champions | TBD |
| Seasons | |
Due to the major adjustments in the last season's league calendar, the start of the league's 45th season was set on March 1, 2020 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.[1] However the start of the 2020 season has been delayed until at least March 8 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
The PBA Leo Awards for the 2019 season were held before the opening ceremonies.[1] The first official activity for this season was the 2019 PBA draft, held before the semifinals of the 2019 PBA Governors' Cup.[3]
The season is currently on-hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. The league initially planned to use the three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup. The Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup were supposed to be the second and third conferences for this season. However the league was curtailed and will only have one conference if the PBA will be allowed to resume the season.
Executive board
- Commissioner: WIllie Marcial (Commissioner)
- Chairman: Ricky Vargas (Representing TNT KaTropa)
- Vice-Chairman: Demosthenes Rosales (Representing Terra Firma Dyip)
- Treasurer: Silliman Sy (Representing Blackwater Elite)
Teams
Arenas
Like several Metro Manila-centric leagues, most games are held at arenas within Metro Manila, either the Smart Araneta Coliseum or the Mall of Asia Arena, and sometimes, in the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Games outside this area are called "out-of-town" games, and are usually played on Saturdays. Provincial arenas usually host one game, rarely two; these arenas typically host only once per season, but a league may return within a season if the turnout is satisfactory.
Typically, all playoff games are held in Metro Manila arenas, although playoff and Finals games have been seldom played in the provinces.
So far, only one game of the Philippine Cup was held due to the postponement of the 2020 PBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sole game was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
| Arena | City |
|---|---|
| Smart Araneta Coliseum | Quezon City |
Out-of-town arenas
The March 14 game between Blackwater and Barangay Ginebra in Bataan People's Center, Balanga, the April 25 game between San Miguel and NLEX in Zamboanga del Norte Sports Center, Dipolog, and the May 2 game between TNT and Magnolia in Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro, were all postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. These maybe rescheduled on another venue.
Transactions
Retirement
- On February 2020, Yancy de Ocampo announced his retirement from the PBA. De Ocampo played for 6 franchises in his 17 seasons in the league.[4]
- On April 14, 2020, Ranidel de Ocampo announced his retirement from the PBA. De Ocampo played for 3 franchises in his 16 seasons in the league.[5]
Notable events
- November 22, 2019: Ricky Vargas of TNT KaTropa was re-elected for a third consecutive term as the Chairman of the PBA Board of Governors. Bobby Rosales of Columbian Dyip was elected as Vice Chairman while Silliman Sy of Blackwater Elite was elected as treasurer.[6]
- Reigning five-time June Mar Fajardo suffered a leg injury, fracturing his right tibia during their team practice on February 5.[7]
- On February 9, Greg Slaughter announced through his Instagram account that his contract with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel have expired and he will take an indefinite leave from basketball.[8]
- The start of the 2020 season was to March 8 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The opening ceremonies were originally scheduled on March 1.
- June 4: The PBA Board of Governors approved the transfer of ownership of the Columbian Dyip franchise from Columbian Autocar Corporation to its sister company, Terra Firma Realty Development Corporation. The team will carry the Terra Firma brand.[9]
- June 16: TNT KaTropa assistant coach Tab Baldwin was slapped with a three-game suspension plus a P75,000 fine by the commissioner's office for his comments on the league's officiating, tournament format and assessment of local coaches during a podcast.[10] On June 25, he was fired by TNT as their assistant coach.[11]
- July 6: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel's Japeth Aguilar and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters's Adrian Wong were fined P20,000 each after both players were seen paying five-on-five basketball a week earlier. They are also ordered to undergo a swab test and take a 14-day quarantine.[12] The league had announced on March that all player practices are banned indefinitely due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- July 15: Blackwater Elite team owner Dioceldo Sy announced that he is planning to sell their PBA franchise for P150 million.[13] This is after the PBA and the Games and Amusements Board considered to give sanctions against the team for violating league and health protocols following the alleged workout the team did on July 11. PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial slapped a P100,000 fine and required all players to undergo a swab-test.[14]
- August 1: The Blackwater Elite will be renamed as the "Blackwater Bossing" starting the 2021 season.[15] Team owner Dioceldo Sy also retracted his plan to sell the team's franchise.[16]
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony for this season was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on March 8, 2020. The PBA Leo Awards for the 2019 season was held before the opening ceremonies.
The first game of the Philippine Cup between the San Miguel Beermen and the Magnolia Hotshots was played after the opening ceremonies.
| Team | Muse |
|---|---|
| Alaska Aces | Zowie Palliaer |
| Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | Sanya Lopez |
| Blackwater Elite | Joy Wu |
| Magnolia Hotshots | Kathryn Bernardo |
| Meralco Bolts | Leren Mae Bautista |
| NLEX Road Warriors | Pauline Lopez |
| NorthPort Batang Pier | Christine Patrimonio |
| Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | Sarah Geronimo |
| Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | Chaiyene Huisman Klyza Castro |
| San Miguel Beermen | Alyssa Muhlach |
| Terra Firma Dyip | Katrina Llegado |
| TNT KaTropa | Ariella Arida |
2020 PBA Philippine Cup
The 2020 Philippine Cup started on March 8, 2020. The opening game which won by the San Miguel Beermen against the Magnolia Hotshots, 94-78, was the only game played for the tournament before the start of the quarantine period.[17]
Indefinite suspension
On March 11, the PBA Board of Governors postpone the games of the Philippine Cup due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the enforcement of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon.[18] They have also decided to indefinitely postpone the ongoing PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup and the launching of the PBA 3x3 league.
On April 7, the PBA Board of Governors have decided to shorten the season to a two-conference format during their special meeting. There is also a possibility that the season will only have a single conference if the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon will be further extended until April 30.[19]
After the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces was extended until May 31, the Board of Governors have decided to set a deadline on August if the season will still be continued with a single tournament or if it will be cancelled.[20][21]
On July 3, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-ID) announced that training for professional basketball and football are allowed after the PBA and Philippines Football League together with the Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board and the Department of Health drafted guidelines for training for areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified General Community Quarantines (MGCQ).[22] Metro Manila was classified as a GCQ area since June 1.[23]
Notes
- The 2019 draft was composed of two drafts: the Gilas special draft, which consists of 5 players reserved for the Gilas Pilipinas program, and the regular draft. Go was selected as the first pick in the Gilas special draft. Roosevelt Adams (College of Idaho) was selected by Columbian Dyip as the first pick of the regular draft.
References
- PBA yearend awards to be handed out again on season opening night, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, January 14, 2020
- "PBA PBA, D-League 2020 season opening postponed due to novel coronavirus". Rappler. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
- Columbian nabs Isaac Go as No. 1 pick in PBA Draft 2019, Delfin Dioquino, Rappler, December 8, 2019
- "Yancy de Ocampo firm on retirement despite SMB need to fill Fajardo void". Spin.ph. 2020-02-07. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
- "Gilas hero and PBA veteran Ranidel De Ocampo announces retirement void". Spin.ph. 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
- Ricky Vargas reelected PBA chairman to a third term; BoG extend Draft list-up for Fil-foreign players, PBA.ph, November 22, 2019
- San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo suffers leg fracture, out indefinitely, Mark Giongco, Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 5, 2020
- Greg Slaughter takes indefinite break from basketball, Luisa Morales, The Philippine Star, February 9, 2020
- Dyip set to carry Terra Firma banner, PBA.ph, June 4, 2020
- Tab Baldwin fined P75,000, suspended three games by PBA, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, June 16, 2020
- Tab Baldwin fired from TNT coaching post—sources, Bong Lozada, Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 25, 2020
- Wong fined P20K by PBA, ordered to take swab test, Mark Giongco, Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 6, 2020
- Blackwater eyes PBA exit, puts franchise up for sale for P150M, Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star, July 15, 2020
- Blackwater owner Sy 'offended, deeply hurt' by PBA, GAB actions, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, July 17, 2020
- Goodbye, Elite. Hello, Bossing as Blackwater to adopt new moniker, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, August 1, 2020
- Blackwater upgrades from Elite to Bossing, Justine Bacnis, Tiebreaker Times, August 1, 2020
- Tautuaa steps up in Fajardo's absence, powers SMB in rout of Magnolia, PBA.ph, March 8, 2020
- PBA Board of Governors cancel games as corona virus continues to spread, PBA.ph, March 11, 2020
- PBA board decides to shorten Season 45, PBA.ph, April 7, 2020
- PBA board opts to wait until August to decide on season fate, PBA.ph, May 2, 2020
- Cancelling season now a possibility as PBA to decide by August, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, May 2, 2020
- Boost for PBA as IATF clears resumption of pro basketball, football training, spin.ph, July 3, 2020
- Duterte approves GCQ for Metro Manila starting June 1, Pia Ranada, Rappler, May 28, 2020
See also
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Philippines
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
External links
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