THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is bound to hold a second conference to ice the 46th season with 6-foot-6 foreign imports adding spice to the action, according to league chairman Ricky Vargas on Monday.
A small window will separate the Philippine Cup Finals and the second conference which has yet to be christened as the Commissioner’s Cup or Governors’Cup.
Vargas, TNT Tropang Giga’s representative to the league’s board of governors, also hinted that the second conference could be held in Metro Manila, pending the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Some teams, however, are now busy shopping for reinforcement although there’s no formal decision yet.
“I already told the coaching staff to find an import,” said Magnolia team governor Rene Pardo, who added that his team’s best-of-seven Finals duel with TNT Tropang Giga will still be played in Bacolor, Pampanga.
“Actually, we can hold the finals in Manila but the government wanted a pure bubble setup which is going to be tough and expensive on everyone,” he said.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, according to Coach Tim Cone, will be bringing back Best Import Justin Brownlee.
“Justin’s return will really help. He sets a great tone and work ethic whenever he is with us,” Cone said. “Lots of things to fix. We’re hoping to return to workouts this week, but we need to get to contact drills and scrimmaging soon so that we can work on things.”
Newly-appointed Blackwater coach Ariel Vanguardia said the Bossing are eyeing Aaron Fuller, the team’s import in the 2019 Governor’s Cup.
“Fuller is one of the candidates. He’s playing in a Mexican league which is about to end,” Vanguardia said.
The other teams have yet to reveal their choices as reinforcements.
Vargas said all imports must be fully vaccinated.