PBA eyes big 3x3 field

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is looking to have a big field for its inaugural 3x3 season.

After emerging from the PBA board meeting yesterday, Alaska governor Dickie Bachmann said they are looking to have 18 teams, including the 12 regular PBA clubs, in the first season of the 3x3 tournament.

Bachmann said they are preparing to play using closed-circuit concept, but if the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will not agree, they will set up a bubble tournament.

He said they want to hold three conferences per season with five legs and one grand final per conference. Non-bubble legs will be held every Saturday.

Helping Bachmann explain the details of the 3x3 tourney were tournament director Eric Altamirano and committee members Eric Castro, Ronnie Magsanoc and Joey Guanio.

The Taduran-Cuarto title bout will mark only the fifth time that two Filipinos are facing off with a world title on the line.

We’re looking at having 18 teams.

“We explained everything about the format and it was approved by the PBA board,” Bachmann said.

“We will go for a three-conference season with five legs and one grand final per conference. But if the IATF will say that we should play inside the bubble, we will comply.”

“We are preparing a 13-day bubble tournament with three two-day legs and a two-day grand final.”

Bachmann said the committee is now in the process of crafting the guidelines on player recruitment, which will be on a direct-hire basis.

He added that all 12 teams are already committed with the guest teams still subject to approval.

“We’re looking at having 18 teams,” he said, adding that guest teams are also eligible to win the title.