2020 PBA season

The 2020 PBA season is the 45th season of the Philippine Basketball Association.

2020 PBA season
2020 PBA season
DurationMarch 8 – 11, 2020 (suspended)
Number of teams12
TV partner(s)Local:
One Sports
5
One Sports
PBA Rush (HD)
International:
AksyonTV International
Online:
ESPN Player
Draft
Top draft pickIsaac Go[n 1]
Picked byColumbian Dyip
Conferences
Philippine Cup championsTBD
Seasons

Due to the major adjustments in the last season's league calendar, the start of the league's 45th season was set on March 1, 2020 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.[1] However the start of the 2020 season has been delayed until at least March 8 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

The PBA Leo Awards for the 2019 season were held before the opening ceremonies.[1] The first official activity for this season was the 2019 PBA draft, held before the semifinals of the 2019 PBA Governors' Cup.[3]

The season is currently on-hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. The league initially planned to use the three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup. The Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup were supposed to be the second and third conferences for this season. However the league was curtailed and will only have one conference if the PBA will be allowed to resume the season.

Executive board
  • Wilfrido O. Marcial (Commissioner)
  • Victorico P. Vargas (Chairman, representing TNT KaTropa)
  • Demosthenes Rosales (Vice-Chairman, representing Terra Firma Dyip)
  • Silliman Sy (Treasurer, representing Blackwater Elite)

Teams
TeamCompanyGovernorCoachCaptain
Alaska AcesAlaska Milk CorporationRichard BachmannJeffrey CariasoJVee Casio
Barangay Ginebra San MiguelGinebra San Miguel, Inc.Alfrancis ChuaTim ConeLA Tenorio
Blackwater EliteEver Bilena Cosmetics, Inc.Silliman SyNash RacelaMike Cortez
Magnolia HotshotsSan Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc.Rene PardoChito VictoleroRafi Reavis
Meralco BoltsManila Electric CompanyAl PanlilioNorman BlackReynel Hugnatan
NLEX Road WarriorsMetro Pacific Investments CorporationRodrigo FrancoYeng GuiaoAsi Taulava
NorthPort Batang PierSultan 900 Capital, Inc.Eric ArejolaPido JarencioSean Anthony
Phoenix Super LPG Fuel MastersPhoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc.Raymond ZorrillaLouie AlasMatthew Wright
Rain or Shine Elasto PaintersAsian Coatings Philippines, Inc.Mamerto MondragonCaloy GarciaGabe Norwood
San Miguel BeermenSan Miguel Brewery, Inc.Robert NonLeo AustriaArwind Santos
Terra Firma DyipTerra Firma Realty Development CorporationDemosthenes RosalesJohnedel CardelGlenn Khobuntin
TNT KaTropaSmart CommunicationsRicky VargasBong RavenaJayson Castro

Arenas

Like several Metro Manila-centric leagues, most games are held at arenas within Metro Manila, either the Smart Araneta Coliseum or the Mall of Asia Arena, and sometimes, in the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Games outside this area are called "out-of-town" games, and are usually played on Saturdays. Provincial arenas usually host one game, rarely two; these arenas typically host only once per season, but a league may return within a season if the turnout is satisfactory.

Typically, all playoff games are held in Metro Manila arenas, although playoff and Finals games have been seldom played in the provinces.

So far, only one game of the Philippine Cup was held due to the postponement of the 2020 PBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sole game was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

ArenaCity
Smart Araneta ColiseumQuezon City

Out-of-town arenas

The March 14 game between Blackwater and Barangay Ginebra in Bataan People's Center, Balanga, the April 25 game between San Miguel and NLEX in Zamboanga del Norte Sports Center, Dipolog, and the May 2 game between TNT and Magnolia in Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro, were all postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. These maybe rescheduled on another venue.

Transactions
For trades done on draft day, see 2019 PBA draft.


Retirement
  • On February 2020, Yancy de Ocampo announced his retirement from the PBA. De Ocampo played for 6 franchises in his 17 seasons in the league.[4]
  • On April 14, 2020, Ranidel de Ocampo announced his retirement from the PBA. De Ocampo played for 3 franchises in his 16 seasons in the league.[5]

Notable events
  • November 22, 2019: Ricky Vargas of TNT KaTropa was re-elected for a third consecutive term as the Chairman of the PBA Board of Governors. Bobby Rosales of Columbian Dyip was elected as Vice Chairman while Silliman Sy of Blackwater Elite was elected as treasurer.[6]
  • Reigning five-time June Mar Fajardo suffered a leg injury, fracturing his right tibia during their team practice on February 5.[7]
  • On February 9, Greg Slaughter announced through his Instagram account that his contract with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel have expired and he will take an indefinite leave from basketball.[8]
  • The start of the 2020 season was to March 8 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The opening ceremonies were originally scheduled on March 1.
  • June 4, 2020: The PBA Board of Governors approved the transfer of ownership of the Columbian Dyip franchise from Columbian Autocar Corporation to its sister company, Terra Firma Realty Development Corporation. The team will carry the Terra Firma brand.[9]

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony for this season was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on March 8, 2020. The PBA Leo Awards for the 2019 season was held before the opening ceremonies.

The first game of the Philippine Cup between the San Miguel Beermen and the Magnolia Hotshots was played after the opening ceremonies.

Team Muse
Alaska Aces Zowie Palliaer
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Sanya Lopez
Blackwater Elite Joy Wu
Magnolia Hotshots Kathryn Bernardo
Meralco Bolts Leren Mae Bautista
NLEX Road Warriors Pauline Lopez
NorthPort Batang Pier Christine Patrimonio
Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters Sarah Geronimo
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Chaiyene Huisman
Klyza Castro
San Miguel Beermen Alyssa Muhlach
Terra Firma Dyip Katrina Llegado
TNT KaTropa Ariella Arida

2020 PBA Philippine Cup
Main article: 2020 PBA Philippine Cup

The 2020 Philippine Cup started on March 8, 2020. The opening game which won by the San Miguel Beermen against the Magnolia Hotshots, 94-78, was the only game played for the tournament before the start of the quarantine period.[10]

Indefinite suspension

On March 11, the PBA Board of Governors postpone the games of the Philippine Cup due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the enforcement of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon.[11] They have also decided to indefinitely postpone the ongoing PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup and the launching of the PBA 3x3 league.

On April 7, the PBA Board of Governors have decided to shorten the season to a two-conference format during their special meeting. There is also a possibility that the season will only have a single conference if the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon will be further extended until April 30.[12]

After the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces was extended until May 31, the Board of Governors have decided to set a deadline on August if the season will still be continued with a single tournament or if it will be cancelled.[13][14]

Notes
  1. The 2019 draft was composed of two drafts: the Gilas special draft, which consists of 5 players reserved for the Gilas Pilipinas program, and the regular draft. Go was selected as the first pick in the Gilas special draft. Roosevelt Adams (College of Idaho) was selected by Columbian Dyip as the first pick of the regular draft.

References
  1. PBA yearend awards to be handed out again on season opening night, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, January 14, 2020
  2. "PBA PBA, D-League 2020 season opening postponed due to novel coronavirus". Rappler. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  3. Columbian nabs Isaac Go as No. 1 pick in PBA Draft 2019, Delfin Dioquino, Rappler, December 8, 2019
  4. "Yancy de Ocampo firm on retirement despite SMB need to fill Fajardo void". Spin.ph. 2020-02-07. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  5. "Gilas hero and PBA veteran Ranidel De Ocampo announces retirement void". Spin.ph. 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  6. Ricky Vargas reelected PBA chairman to a third term; BoG extend Draft list-up for Fil-foreign players, PBA.ph, November 22, 2019
  7. San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo suffers leg fracture, out indefinitely, Mark Giongco, Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 5, 2020
  8. Greg Slaughter takes indefinite break from basketball, Luisa Morales, The Philippine Star, February 9, 2020
  9. Dyip set to carry Terra Firma banner, PBA.ph, June 4, 2020
  10. Tautuaa steps up in Fajardo's absence, powers SMB in rout of Magnolia, PBA.ph, March 8, 2020
  11. PBA Board of Governors cancel games as corona virus continues to spread, PBA.ph, March 11, 2020
  12. PBA board decides to shorten Season 45, PBA.ph, April 7, 2020
  13. PBA board opts to wait until August to decide on season fate, PBA.ph, May 2, 2020
  14. Cancelling season now a possibility as PBA to decide by August, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, May 2, 2020

See also
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