The PBA is launching a pre-season tournament along with the return of the Batang PBA to make up for the long lull the league will be having after giving way for Gilas Pilipinas' preparations for the FIBA World Cup in August.

PBA teams will figure in a pre-season tournament (PBA Images)

######

The pre-season tournament or the so-called PBA on Tour or the Summer League is set to fire off in May and will simultaneously run with the Batang PBA and the D- League which will kick off slightly earlier with its Aspirants’ Cup on Thursday, April 27.

“We will have our PBA on Tour or Summer League by May 21 so to cover the two conferences that we will not have for the 48th season after the World Cup,” said deputy commissioner Eric Castro during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday, April 25.

“Mahaba po kasi iyong break natin kung mapapansin nyo five to six months in preparation for the World Cup," he added.

Castro said the tournament is expected to run until July with teams figuring in single round-robin format. The teams will have flexibility with its lineup, with PBA draft applicants, undrafted players, and collegiate standouts welcome to join the usual roster of 12 players per team.

Games will be held at the FilOil-EcoOil Centre in San Juan and Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig and will be televised through PBA Rush and One Sports. So far, the tournament has four scheduled out-of-town games.

“We have a game in Dumaguete in July and in Baliwag, Bulacan, then a game in Batangas City. We’ll also have Tiaong, Quezon and will also play in UST in July and Olivarez College,” shared Castro.

Meanwhile, the Batang PBA, after a three-year absence, will be reinstalled with an unprecedented 20 teams joining. Eight more teams were added from the usual 12 with some teams carrying the banners of 3x3 teams Cavitex Braves, Blackwater Red Presidents, Team Stalwarts, and Team Greats, to name a few.

“Babalik po ang Batang PBA after three years nagdagdag po tayo ng mga teams unprecedented ito teams from the 12 existing teams nagdadag pa tayo ng eight teams. Sa dami ng gustong sumali sa batang PBA nagballoon po sa 20 teams,” said Castro.

To give the kids a feel of playing in a PBA atmosphere, the games will also be held at Ynares Pasig and San Juan Arena, serving as a filler during the game days of PBA on Tour and PBA D-League.