By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has delayed the start of its Season 48 to give additional rest to the Gilas Pilipinas players who will compete in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China this September.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said league officials were unanimous in their decision to move the start of the 2023-2024 PBA season to November 5 from the initial schedule of October 15.

“Hindi biro ang sakripisyo nila, kaya dapat lang bigyan natin sila ng sapat na panahon para makapagpahinga,” Marcial said.

“Gusto rin natin makapaghanda ang mga teams para sa darating na season,” he added.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings mentor Tim Cone, who is serving as the interim coach of Gilas Pilipinas, has selected PBA players to lead the Asian Games-bound national team.

Among the PBA players selected by Cone are Kings’ Japeth Aguilar, Earl Scottie Thompson, resident import Justin Brownlee and Stanley Pringle, which will serve as Gilas’ reserve for the tournament.

Also there for the national team are San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo, Terrence Romeo and Moala Tautuaa, as well as TNT Tropang Giga gunners’ Roger Pogoy and Calvin Oftana.

Completing the squad are Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots’ Calvin Abueva, Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome, Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters’ Jason Perkins, and naturalized player Angelo Kouame.

Marcial said that, as earlier planned, the new PBA season will still start with the Commissioner’s Cup before being followed by the All-Filipino Conference by around February next year.

“Sa ngayon, fina-finalize na din natin ang mga playing venues ng laban kasi may mga venue na naka-book sa ibang liga,” he said.

“Ganun pa din, our first conference will be the Commissioner’s, to be followed by the Philippine Cup,” he added.

Meanwhile, the annual PBA draft will push through this Sunday, September 17 at the Market! Market! in Taguig City with a record of 128 rookie aspirants, including five from Western Visayas./ASC, WDJ