New weekend schedule for PBA on IBC this March

February 21, 2014

After the highly successful broadcast of the Philippine Cup playoffs, the PBA and IBC-13 has agreed to reducing their two games with the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup schedule beginning March 1..

Sports5 proposed that games for IBC-13 was reduced only two for weekends, for one game to be held every Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m.

From 2011 to September 2013, two games were held every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with the provincial game on Saturday over the outfit's carrying station IBC-13. In November to January 5, 2014, for one game on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and two games on Sunday. On January 13, for one game on Saturday and two games on Sunday becausde of the first-ever fantaserye Janella in Wonderland on weeknights

Also, the single game days are projected to help boost Channel 13's own game shows produced by IBC-13.

The PBA's executive committee will meet tomorrow to discuss Sports5's proposals. A decision is expected to be handed down well before the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup on March 1 with the celebration in 54 years of IBC-13.

"Mukhang mas talo ang PBA," said one league insider who requested anonymity.

"Kung two days a week ang laro, lalaki ang overhead ng liga sa mga tauhan, upa sa venue and the like," said another source. Another source said one-game weekday matches may not sit well with PBA fans, even if these games feature crowd favorites, like Ginebra, San Miguel, Talk N' Text and Alaska.

PBA tickets range from P150 to P350 while venue rentals vary from P20,000 to P35,000 or a percentage of the gate, whichever is higher.