stringtranslate.com

2020 PBA season

The 2020 PBA season or PBA Season 45 was the 45th season of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Due to the major adjustments in the last season's league calendar, the start of the league's 45th season was set on March 1, 2020, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.[1] However, the start of the 2020 season has been delayed until at least March 8 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

The PBA Leo Awards for the 2019 season were held before the opening ceremonies.[1] The first official activity for this season was the 2019 PBA draft, held before the semifinals of the 2019 PBA Governors' Cup.[3]

The season was suspended on March 11, three days after its opening ceremonies, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

The league initially planned to use the three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup. The Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup were supposed to be the second and third conferences for this season.

On September 17, the PBA Board of Governors have approved a plan to restart the season on October 11 (originally on October 9), then was given a provisional approval by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on September 24. All games were played in the "PBA bubble" in Angeles City, the isolation zone specifically created for league operations.[4][5]

This was first time that the league played only one tournament or conference in a season.

Since the season only had one conference, the Most Valuable Player was not awarded. In lieu of the Leo Awards usually given at the end of the season, the league held a special awards night on January 17, 2021, to award the Best Player of the Conference, Outstanding Rookie, Most Improved Player, Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award and Outstanding/Elite Five.[6]

Executive board

Teams

Player quotas

Filipino-foreigners

The PBA allows for each team to have up to five players classified as "Filipino-foreigners" in their roster. Filipino-foreigners are natural born Filipinos born outside the Philippines.

Imports

There are no imports who played for the 2020 PBA season due to the cancellation of the Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup.

Arenas

In a usual PBA season, like several Metro Manila-centric leagues, most games are held at arenas within Metro Manila, either the Smart Araneta Coliseum or the Mall of Asia Arena, and sometimes, in the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Games outside this area are called "out-of-town" games, and are usually played on Saturdays. Provincial arenas usually host one game, rarely two; these arenas typically host only once per season, but a league may return within a season if the turnout is satisfactory. Typically, all playoff games are held in Metro Manila arenas, although playoff and finals games have been seldom played in the provinces.

Only one game day was done prior to the suspension of league activities due to COVID-19 pandemic; this was the opening day game held after the opening ceremonies at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After the league decided to resume the season under a bubble setup, it was decided that the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone1 in Pampanga shall host the bubble, with the Angeles University Foundation hosting the actual games.[8]

Note
1.^ For marketing purposes, games which took place in Angeles, within the PBA Bubble, were said to take place in "Smart Clark Giga City". The AUF Sports & Cultural Center was likewise rebranded as "AUF Sports Arena Powered by Smart 5G".[9]

Transactions

Retirement

Coaching changes

Notable events

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony for this season was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on March 8, 2020. The PBA Leo Awards for the 2019 season was held before the opening ceremonies.

The first game of the Philippine Cup between the San Miguel Beermen and the Magnolia Hotshots was played after the opening ceremonies.

Below is the list of team muses:

2020 PBA Philippine Cup

The 2020 Philippine Cup started on March 8, 2020. The opening game which won by the San Miguel Beermen against the Magnolia Hotshots, 94–78, was the only game played for the tournament before the start of the quarantine period on March 11.[32]

The tournament resumed on October 11, suspended again on October 30, resumed again on November 3, and ended on December 9.

Elimination round

Source: PBA.ph
Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) if two teams are tied, head to head record; if three or more teams are tied, head-to-head goal average (quotient), if tied for 8th, one-game playoff; 3) overall quotient 4) coin toss[33]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head record: Barangay Ginebra 1–0 Phoenix
  2. ^ a b c d e Head-to-head quotient: TNT 1.074, San Miguel 1.023, Meralco 0.992, Alaska 0.959, Magnolia 0.955
  3. ^ a b Head-to-head record: NorthPort 1–0 Terrafirma

Playoffs

This box:

Quarterfinals

*Team has twice-to-beat advantage. Team #1 only has to win once, while Team #2 has to win twice.

Semifinals

Finals

Awards

Season awards

PBA Press Corps Annual Awards

Suspension and restart of Philippine Cup

On March 11, hours before Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 (causing the NBA to suspend its season), the PBA Board of Governors postponed the games of the Philippine Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.[34] They have also decided to indefinitely postpone the ongoing PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup and the launching of the PBA 3x3 league.

On April 7, the PBA Board of Governors have decided to shorten the season to a two-conference format during their special meeting. There is also a possibility that the season will only have a single conference if the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon will be further extended until April 30.[35]

After the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces was extended until May 31, the Board of Governors have decided to set a deadline on August if the season will still be continued with a single tournament or if it will be cancelled.[36][37]

On July 3, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) announced that training for professional basketball and football are allowed after the PBA and Philippines Football League, together with the Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board and the Department of Health, drafted guidelines for training for areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified General Community Quarantines (MGCQ).[38] Metro Manila was classified as a GCQ area since June 1.[39] The IATF-EID Joint Administrative Order was released on July 24.[40]

The planned player swab testing and resumption of team practices were postponed after Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces were put under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) on August 3 due to the surge of COVID-19 cases.[41]

After Metro Manila returned to General Community Quarantine status on August 19, player swab testing was immediately done. Teams resumed their training sessions on August 25.[42]

The league planned to resume the Philippine Cup in a "bubble setup" similar to how the NBA implemented their own bubble. The Araneta City in Cubao, the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna and the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga were considered as venues for the PBA bubble.[43]

The PBA Board of Governors decided to hold the "PBA bubble" in the Clark area in Pampanga during their meeting on September 17. The games will be played at the Angeles University Foundation gymnasium while the players will stay at the Quest Hotel inside Clark.[4] The league also plans to resume the Philippine Cup by October 11 if the league gets the approval from the IATF-EID.[5] On September 24, the IATF-EID gave the league a provisional approval to have scrimmages and five-on-five games.[5] The 12 teams of PBA arrived in Clark by batches on September 28 and 29, 2020.[44]

On October 6, the league published its complete eliminations schedule. The elimination round games of the Philippine Cup were played daily, with two games scheduled per day.[45] The league also decided to retain the results of the San Miguel Beermen's 94–78 win over the Magnolia Hotshots on March 8, 2020; the only game played prior to the suspension of the Philippine Cup.[46]

On October 21, the league announced that one of the referees who officiated the Blackwater-Alaska game a day before has tested positive for COVID-19. The referee was sent to the Athlete's Village in Capas, Tarlac. The said facility was used during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and is the primary quarantine facility for OFWs during the pandemic. The said referee was tested negative on his RT-PCR test four days after. On the same day, it was announced that one of the players of Blackwater Elite had tested positive for COVID-19.[47] As a result, three games involving TNT and Blackwater have been postponed as of October 29. The games will be rescheduled on a later date once the approval from the IATF-EID will be given.[48][needs update]

On October 30, 2020, the league announced through their social media accounts that the games will be postponed to ensure the integrity of the PBA bubble and until the new protocols set by the IATF-EID and the Department of Health are in place.[49][50][51]

The following day, the PBA announced that they will resume its games on Tuesday, November 3 after the IATF-EID issued the following new guidelines:

A quarantine facility will be set up within the Clark bubble for future COVID-19 positive cases.[52]

In order for the league to finish the elimination round by November 11, two to four games were scheduled per day. This was the first time that the PBA held a quadruple-header game day.[53]

Cumulative standings

Source: PBA.ph
Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) if two teams are tied, head-to-head record; if three or more teams are tied, head-to-head goal average (quotient), if tied for 8th, one-game playoff; 3) overall quotient 4) coin toss[54]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head record: Alaska 1–0 Magnolia
  2. ^ a b Head-to-head record: NorthPort 1–0 Terrafirma

Elimination round

See 2020 PBA Philippine Cup

Playoffs

Source: PBA.ph
Rules for classification: 1) wins; 2) if two teams are tied, head-to-head record; if three or more teams are tied, head-to-head goal average (quotient), if tied for 8th, one-game playoff; 3) overall quotient 4) coin toss[54]

Notes

  1. ^ The 2019 draft was composed of two drafts: the Gilas special draft, which consists of 5 players reserved for the Gilas Pilipinas program, and the regular draft. Isaac Go was selected as the first pick in the Gilas special draft. Adams (College of Idaho) was selected by Columbian Dyip as the first pick of the regular draft.
  2. ^ Nationality indicates the player's place of birth, and may not necessarily hold the associated foreign citizenship. All players have Filipino citizenship.

References

  1. ^ a b PBA yearend awards to be handed out again on season opening night, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, January 14, 2020
  2. ^ a b "PBA PBA, D-League 2020 season opening postponed due to novel coronavirus". Rappler. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Columbian nabs Isaac Go as No. 1 pick in PBA Draft 2019, Delfin Dioquino, Rappler, December 8, 2019
  4. ^ a b PBA to hold 'bubble season' at Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, September 17, 2020
  5. ^ a b c IATF provisional clearance paves way for PBA scrimmages, games in Clark bubble, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, September 24, 2020
  6. ^ PBA won't name MVP in bubble; will award Best Player of Conference instead, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, December 3, 2020
  7. ^ "2020 PBA Bubble Team Lineups as of October 6, 2020". Twitter. PBA. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  8. ^ Bacnis, Justine (September 17, 2020). "Clark to host PBA Season 45 bubble". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  9. ^ Leyba, Olmin (November 27, 2020). "Last dance or go home". Philippine Star. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  10. ^ "Yancy de Ocampo firm on retirement despite SMB need to fill Fajardo void". Spin.ph. February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  11. ^ "Gilas hero and PBA veteran Ranidel De Ocampo announces retirement void". Spin.ph. April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "Former PBA MVP Kelly Williams announces retirement at age 38". Spin.ph. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  13. ^ "Magnolia lifer PJ Simon retires from PBA". Rappler. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  14. ^ "Phoenix fires Louie Alas, appoints Topex Robinson interim coach". Spin.ph.
  15. ^ Ricky Vargas reelected PBA chairman to a third term; BoG extend Draft list-up for Fil-foreign players, PBA.ph, November 22, 2019
  16. ^ San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo suffers leg fracture, out indefinitely, Mark Giongco, Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 5, 2020
  17. ^ Greg Slaughter takes indefinite break from basketball, Luisa Morales, The Philippine Star, February 9, 2020
  18. ^ Dyip set to carry Terra Firma banner, PBA.ph, June 4, 2020
  19. ^ Tab Baldwin fined P75,000, suspended three games by PBA, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, June 16, 2020
  20. ^ Tab Baldwin fired from TNT coaching post—sources, Bong Lozada, Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 25, 2020
  21. ^ Wong fined P20K by PBA, ordered to take swab test, Mark Giongco, Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 6, 2020
  22. ^ Blackwater eyes PBA exit, puts franchise up for sale for P150M, Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star, July 15, 2020
  23. ^ Blackwater owner Sy 'offended, deeply hurt' by PBA, GAB actions, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, July 17, 2020
  24. ^ Goodbye, Elite. Hello, Bossing as Blackwater to adopt new moniker, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, August 1, 2020
  25. ^ Blackwater upgrades from Elite to Bossing, Justine Bacnis, Tiebreaker Times, August 1, 2020
  26. ^ TnT carries Tropang Giga moniker heading to PBA Clark bubble, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, September 26, 2020
  27. ^ As PBA gears up for resumption, D-League cancels season, Randolph Leongson, spin.ph, September 30, 2020
  28. ^ LOOK: Throwback 90s jerseys which SMB will wear inside PBA bubble, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, October 3, 2020
  29. ^ Alaska unveils '96 grand slam retro jersey in game against old rival SMB, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, October 24, 2020
  30. ^ Abueva Suspension Lifted, PBA.ph, October 25, 2020
  31. ^ Phoenix appoints Topex Robinson as full-time head coach, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, November 1, 2020
  32. ^ Tautuaa steps up in Fajardo's absence, powers SMB in rout of Magnolia, PBA.ph, March 8, 2020
  33. ^ "ALL ABOUT THE PBA QUOTIENT". December 10, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  34. ^ PBA Board of Governors cancel games as corona virus continues to spread, PBA.ph, March 11, 2020
  35. ^ PBA board decides to shorten Season 45, PBA.ph, April 7, 2020
  36. ^ PBA board opts to wait until August to decide on season fate, PBA.ph, May 2, 2020
  37. ^ Cancelling season now a possibility as PBA to decide by August, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, May 2, 2020
  38. ^ Boost for PBA as IATF clears resumption of pro basketball, football training, spin.ph, July 3, 2020
  39. ^ Duterte approves GCQ for Metro Manila starting June 1, Pia Ranada, Rappler, May 28, 2020
  40. ^ It's official: PBA teams can resume workouts, PBA.ph, July 27, 2020
  41. ^ PBA to stay the course even as NCR back in MECQ, pba.ph, August 3, 2020
  42. ^ Barangay Ginebra first to hit the courts as PBA teams return to training, spin.ph, August 25, 2020
  43. ^ PBA teams bound to shoulder enormous cost of mounting a bubble, Reuben Terrado, August 25, 2020
  44. ^ "PBA bubble: Clark's safety protocols draw praises from players | Bases Conversion and Development Authority". Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  45. ^ Ginebra-Magnolia Philippine Cup bubble battle set Oct. 25, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, October 6, 2020
  46. ^ Terrado, Jonas (October 6, 2020). "PBA releases official schedule; doubleheaders start Sunday". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  47. ^ The longest week in Clark, Jeremiah Sevilla, Manila Bulletin, October 25, 2020
  48. ^ Blackwater in state of anxiety as one player remains in isolation, spin.ph, October 28, 2020
  49. ^ Dioquino, Delfin (October 30, 2020). "PBA puts Philippine Cup 2020 on hold". Rappler. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  50. ^ Lozada, Bong (October 30, 2020). "PBA postpones games starting Friday per IATF recommendation". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  51. ^ Villanueva, Eros (October 30, 2020). "PBA postpones games starting Friday 'in compliance with IATF recommendation'". EPSN5. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  52. ^ Villanueva, Eros (October 31, 2020). "PBA games resume Tuesday, additional protocols in place". PBA.ph. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  53. ^ Ramos, Gerry (November 1, 2020). "PBA holds rare quadruple, triple headers to make up for bubble postponements". spin.ph. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  54. ^ a b "ALL ABOUT THE PBA QUOTIENT". December 10, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2018.

See also

External links