PBA sked forces Phl to move SEABA hosting to May

MANILA, Philippines -  The Southeast Asian Basketball Association has decided to move the SEABA Championship from April to May due to conflict in schedules with the local tournaments in some SEABA member countries.

Originally set April 23-30 in Manila, the event’s postponement is expected to affect the PBA and Gilas Pilipinas program based on their previous agreement with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Under the deal, the PBA will release pro players belonging to the Gilas pool two months before a tournament. The 12 additional players will be made available to the training pool a month before the competition.

The PBA mid-season Commissioner’s Cup will start on March 17 and the new SEABA schedule on May 15-21 may force the 12 pro ballclubs to release their top players picked in the national team in a critical period of the tournament.

Under the new schedule, Gilas cadets will have to sit out the first two months of the Commissioner’s Cup while the PBA veterans will have to miss games from the start of May.

The SBP and the PBA are expected to meet in the next few days to come up with a solution that would guarantee the country’s successful campaign in the SEABA tilt and at the same time not disrupt the Commissioner’s Cup schedule.