By NIKOLE JAVIER
The PBA will revert to its five playdates a week schedule as it begins the season-ending Governors' Cup on Sunday, Jan. 22.
A week after the conclusion of the Commissioner's Cup that saw Ginebra win its 15th franchise title after outlasting the visiting Bay Area side, the league will open the hostilities with Meralco and Rain or Shine at 4:30 p.m., while Converge will clash with NorthPorth in the second offering.
The final conference of the 2022-23 season will feature another compressed schedule to give way to the preparation of Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May.
Last year, the league featured the same format in the Philippine Cup as the national team prepared for the third and fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
The Governors’ Cup will also showcase 12 imports no taller than 6-foot-5.
Fresh off his sixth title in the PBA, Justin Brownlee will continue to be the resident import for Ginebra even after already taking his oath of allegiance to the Philippines as a naturalized Filipino on Jan. 16.
Meanwhile, the Gin Kings will get down on their title defense on Feb. 5 when they tackle the Elasto Painters.
The PBA will play games every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday to ensure its finale in time for the SEA Games.