The PBA brain trust headed by commissioner Willie Marcial along with the 12 governors of the member teams left for Osaka, Japan on Saturday, July 20 for the league’s annual planning for the upcoming Season 49 .

Marcial, along with the members of the league management committee and Board of Governors led by PBA chairman Ricky Vargas (TNT), are set to sit down on a three-day meeting beginning Sunday, July 21 to tackle the grand plans for the brand new season and in the lead up for the league’s 50th year celebration.

Vice chairman Bobby Rosales (Terrafirma), treasurer Raymond Zorrilla (Phoenix), Erick Arejola (NorthPort), Archen Cayabyab (Converge), Alfrancis Chua (Barangay Ginebra), Ronald Dulatre (NLEX), Mamerto Mondragon (Rain or Shine), Robert Non (San Miguel Beer), William Pamintuan (Meralco), Rene Pardo (Magnolia) and Silliman Sy (Blackwater) were all in attendance.

Also part of the delegation were top officials from the league's broadcast partners -- Cignal TV and MediaQuest top honcho Jane Basas, TV5 president and CEO Guido Zaballero and Cignal TV EVP Sienna Olaso to report on the league viewership performance in Season 48 and also lay out the plans for the TV coverage for the upcoming season.

“We're to sit in a meeting optimistic of a good year ahead and hopeful we can come up with plans and programs that can make the PBA more exciting and interesting for basketball fans," said Marcial.

The plans for the Season 49 are yet to be fully ironed out although this year’s opening conference, Governors’ Cup, is already set to kick off on Aug. 18 with the league introducing a new format where the teams are divided into two groups.

Teams then play in a double round robin before the top four teams advance in a crossover playoffs. Quarterfinals are now in best-of-five while the semifinals and finals are both best-of-seven affairs.

“Tingin kasi namin mas gusto ng fans ang playoff matches. Susubukan natin sa first conference, and we'll see," said Marcial.

Up for discussion is the Commissioner’s Cup where the PBA is looking into the possibility of welcoming a new guest team as well as the introduction of two imports per team.

In fact, Marcial and Ginebra governor Chua already met with former ABL team Hong Kong Eastern before joining the rest of the delegation to Osaka. HK Eastern was led by sporting director Tony Wong, team chairman Frankie Yau, and team manager Oliver Lee and accompanied by East Asia Super League (EASL) CEO Henry Kerins.