PBA to continue during Asiad; Appeal mulled on Ravena case

MANILA, Philippines – PBA commissioner Willie Marcial has ruled out stoppage of PBA play during the staging of the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia in August, saying the league is already pressed for time to finish the season within the year.

Nonetheless, Marcial said the PBA board of governors would find ways to accommodate the country’s participation in Asiad basketball in an emergency board meeting at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City Thursday.

“If there are teams willing to lend players to the national team, probably the most we could do is to adjust the schedule. Pwedeng hindi muna namin sila i-schedule during the Asian Games period,” said Marcial.

The PBA chieftain, however, said they could no longer take a break since they’re already to stop play during all the windows of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

“We’re giving way to Gilas in June and in September. If we also stop play in August for the Asian Games, the season would last past 2018,” said Marcial. “As it is, the season is to end in the first week of December. The PBA draft is set December 16.”

On the Kiefer Ravena issue, Marcial is thinking of raising an appeal to FIBA to cut the player’s long 18-month suspension.

“It’s his livelihood, and the substances found in his FIBA doping test are not illegal in the PBA rules,” said Marcial on his leaning to make an appeal on behalf of the NLEX rookie hotshot.

Marcial still had yet to decide whether to adopt the FIBA ruling, saying he would first consult PBA legal counsel Melvin Mendoza.

The PBA received the FIBA ruling through the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Wednesday morning.