PBA eyes October opening for inaugural 3x3 league

Barring any hitches, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is hopeful it could roll out the inaugural 3x3 league in October, at the earliest.

League commissioner Willie Marcial said they are looking at the possibilities of hitting the ground running for the standalone 3x3 showpiece next month but only if they are cleared to hold it somewhere in Metro Manila.

Marcial said it would be challenging to bring the games to Pampanga, where they are holding the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup, especially given the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are targeting to start by October but we can only do so if we are cleared to play in NCR," Marcial said in Filipino in an interview with GMA News Online Tuesday.

"But everything has been laid out by the group of (Alaska) governor Dicky (Bachmann) and we're good to go. We're just awaiting formal approval to play in Metro Manila."

Bachmann, who was tapped to oversee the 3x3 activities as the committee chairman, said there are currently 14 teams confirmed to participate in the tournament.

Once they have secured the go-signal to start the season, teams will be given two to three weeks to practice before formally opening the contest.

Only 10 of the regular PBA teams are expected to join the 3x3 league with Alaska and Blackwater skipping the competition while the four other squads will be guest teams.

"We will start when PBA starts to play in NCR. Once that happens, we will give PBA 3x3 teams 2-3 weeks of practice then start," Bachmann said in a message.

—JMB, GMA News