A LONG season is in the offing in the PBA’s golden year.
The pro league will play an extended season, possibly reaching the early weeks of December 2026 in a move that further boosts the PBA’s support of the Gilas Pilipinas program.
The 50th season of Asia’s pioneering pro league opens on Oct. 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and will span over 14 months in holding a full three-conference slate, starting with the Philippine Cup, followed by the Governors’ Cup, and finally the Commissioner’s Cup.
There will be a short respite to pave the way for the Filipino cagers’ campaign in the FIBA World Cup qualifying windows and the 2026 Asia Games in Nagoya, Japan.
All these have been recommended and approved during the PBA’s recent planning session at the MGM Grand Resort Hotel in Las Vegas.
“The league’s golden season is a long season,” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said, noting the all-out support the national team got from the PBA board led by chairman Ricky Vargas.
“We want to qualify for the Olympics,” Vargas said, meaning the pro league will throw its full support to the Tim Cone-mentored Nationals with a line-up from the PBA that includes June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Oftana and Chris Newsome.
“We’re all-in in our support to our chairman and going with it is our support to Gilas,” PBA vice chairman Alfrancis Chua added.
Also giving their nod were Robert Non of San Miguel Beer, Magnolia’s Jason Webb, Bill Pamintuan of Meralco, NLEX’s Ronald Dulatre, Raymond Zorrilla of Phoenix, Rain or Shine’s Mamerto Mondragon, Silliman Sy of Blackwater, Converge’s Archen Cayabyab, and Erick Arejola of NorthPort.
To have a shot at a historic return to the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, Gilas must qualify for the 2027 World Cup and be the top finisher from among all Asian squads—something Marcial and the PBA are willing to give their unrelenting support.
“Mabigat na tulong ang kailangan, at kasama kami sa magbibigay ng tulong,” Marcial said.
