The PBA along with other leagues had put their games to a halt as typhoon Karding intensifies and was expected to make its landfall on Sunday evening, Sept. 25 and pass through mainland Luzon until Monday, morning Sept. 26.
The PBA, Shakey’s Super League and NCAA had all announced the postponement of their respective games in anticipation of the inclement weather after Metro Manila was put under Storm Signal warnings No. 3 and 2.
Higher storm warnings were expected to be raised in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces as Karding reached a super typhoon category with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Association (PAGASA) 8 a.m. weather bulletin.
The 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup games were supposed to be played at the Mall of Asia Arena with a double-header that will feature a clash between Meralco and NLEX at 4:30 p.m. and Converge and Ginebra at 6 p.m.
Ginebra was expected to make its mid-season conference debut with resident import Justin Brownlee and new acquisitions Jamie Malonzo and Von Pessumal while Meralco was also set play its first game in the conference bannered by NBA veteran import Johnny O’Bryant.
NLEX and Converge, on the other hand, coming off impressive debuts last Sept. 23, were actually looking to sustain their respective momentums in the postponed Sunday showdowns.
Meanwhile, the Leg 3 of the PBA 3x3 scheduled on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 27, has also been postponed.
Likewise, the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball games at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan between Jose Rizal University and College of St. Benilde at 12 noon and San Beda and Perpetual at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, and the UAAP Season 85 press conference at the MOA Arena Monday, Sept. 26, were also suspended.
"Please be informed that upon consultation with MANCOM members through iber, and through phone calls, we are suspending the games today due to storm signal #2 and will be rescheduled to a later date based on our NCAA guidelines,” said NCAA Season 98 Vice Chairman Efren Jose Supan.
Shakey’s Super League, which opened its tournament just last Saturday also canceled its supposed quadruple header at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum due to typhoon Karding.
"The organizers decided to cancel today's games, Sept. 25, Sunday, at Rizal Memorial Coliseum due to Super Typhoon Karding that is expected to make landfall today. With this, Metro Manila has been placed under Signal No. 3 Category,” said in a statement.
“All ticket holders of Sept. 25 games will be honored on the new schedule. Matches for Oct. 1 and 2 will be adjusted to accommodate the cancelled matches of Sept. 25. Thank you for your understanding and support. Stay safe everyone."
Letran and Mapua were supposed to make their debuts in the first game while Adamson took on Emilio Aguinaldo College in the second game.
University of Santo Tomas, on the other hand, was looking to follow up its opening day win in its scheduled clash against Lyceum while Mapua was looking to bounce back from its first loss against University of the East.