The PBA is adjusting its calendar for its 48th Season to give way for Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the upcoming 2023 World Cup.

With Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes revealing his plans to tap PBA players for the global showpiece which the country will be co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia, the PBA Board of Governors approved a two-conference format next season to give the national team ample time to prepare.
“Okay ang board two conferences na lang next season, so ang tinitingnan namin magsisimula tayo by September next year,” PBA commissioner Willie Marcial told the members of the press following a board meeting yesterday in Libis.
“Iyan din ang nakita natin na maitutulong sa gilas. Yung tulong natin talagang preparation for 2023,” he added
The Philippine Cup and one import-laden conference will be played next season which is eyed to start in September, a month after the World Cup.
“Nagpapasalamat talaga ako sa mga team owners na kahit noong araw na nagka-Covid tayo tapos eto na naman nakasuporta yung mga team owners sa atin para sa bayan,” added Marcial
The Board also gave a green light to allow Reyes to select players from any of the PBA teams which are not playing in the finals for the upcoming August window.
So far, players from eliminated teams NorthPort, Phoenix, Rain or Shine, Terrafirma, Converge and Blackwater can now be picked to be part of the national team pool which will start its training on Aug. 15 along with the core players of Gilas team in the FIBA Asia Cup and NBA star Jordan Clarkson.
Gilas will be facing FIBA Asia Cup 2022 silver medalist Lebanon in Beirut on Aug. 25 before hosting Saudi Arabia on Aug. 30.