THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) set an April 9 opening for its 46th season next year with the Rookie Draft slated for March 14.
But everything remains tentative—including the venues—because of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Commissioner Willie Marcial.
Marcial said that the 12 team governors agreed to open applications for the Rookie Draft on Monday and set the deadline for Filipino-foreign and local applicants on January 27 next year. He also bared that the 3×3 tournament could be held in February or March.
Chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT Tropang Giga met the governors online on Thursday where they also decided to hold a different ceremony for individual awards for the 45th season.
The league scrapped the season Most Valuable Player award in favor of the Best Player of the Conference title because the season was reduced to only the Philippine Cup.
Also scrapped was the Rookie of the Year award and was replaced by the Outstanding Rookie. A Special Team trophy will be awarded instead of the traditional Mythical Team. The Most Improved Player and Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Awards will remain.
Marcial said all the league has at the moment are options, all of which are dependent on progress against the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly on the availability of a vaccine.
Rookie aspirants have at least a month to complete their requirements before the deadline of submission of applications.
The league decided to do away with the required stint in the D-League for the Season 46 draft.
This early a slew of national team standouts have already declared their intentions to apply for the draft.