PBA reverts to 2-group format

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is bringing back its two-group format for the Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

It will be the second straight year that the league will implement a group stage where the 13 teams, including the guest squad Macau Black Knights, are divided into two brackets.

The season-ending tournament that is set to unwrap on 10 July will see newly-crowned Commissioner’s Cup champion Barangay Ginebra in Group A while defending champion TNT in Group B.

Joining the Kings are Magnolia, Phoenix, Meralco, Blackwater and Rain or Shine.

In Group B alongside the Tropang 5G are San Miguel Beer, NLEX, Macau, Terrafirma, Titan Ultra and Converge.

Competition format will see teams in each group play in a double-round robin with the top four advancing to the best-of-three quarterfinals. The semifinals is a best-of-five series and the finals is a race-to-four wins affair.

TNT, bannered by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, beat Barangay Ginebra in six games in the finals to complete a sweep of the import-laden conferences of Season 49.

Aside from the two-group opening round, the Asia’s first play-for-pay league will also implement FIBA officiating rules as part of its commitment for the national cause.

Seeking to allow players and coaches to familiarize with how games are officiated in international play, the PBA has decided to transition calls “closer to that of FIBA.”

Commissioner Willie Marcial said earlier that adjustments are expected to be made on situations and fouls, screen settings, as well as the use of possession arrow instead of the usual jump ball.

Teams have already signed their reinforcements in the tournament that caps a 6-foot-6 ceiling for imports.

The Kings are sticking with four-time Best Import Justin Brownlee while the Tropang 5G has brought in Darius Days with Hollis-Jefferson expected to return later in the conference.

Blackwater has Kentrell Barkley, KJ Buffen is with Magnolia, Jordon Vornado has joined Meralco and NLEX has DeQuan Jones.

Other imports are DeVondre Perry of Macau, BJ Johnson of Phoenix, George King of San Miguel and Aaron Fuller of Rain or Shine. Converge, Terrafirma and Titan Ultra have yet to unveil their reinforcements.