When Will PBA Start Again? Here's Everything You Need to Know

As I sit here watching old PBA highlight reels, I can't help but wonder when we'll finally hear that familiar buzzer signaling the league's return. Having followed Philippine basketball for over fifteen years, I've seen my fair share of seasons, but this extended hiatus feels different - more uncertain, yet somehow more promising. The last official PBA game was played on March 8, 2020, and here we are months later, still waiting for concrete answers.

I remember talking to Coach Roger Gorayeb back in 2019, and he mentioned something that stuck with me about the unpredictable nature of Philippine sports seasons. While he was referring to the PVL at the time, his words ring especially true now - "buti nanalo kami ngayon" (good thing we won today) captures that sentiment of appreciating victories when they come because you never know what tomorrow brings. That's exactly how I feel about the PBA's return - we should cherish every moment of basketball we get, whenever it arrives. The uncertainty surrounding the league's comeback reminds me that in Philippine sports, nothing is guaranteed, and every game matters more than we realize in the moment.

The PBA's planning committee has been working tirelessly behind the scenes, from what I've gathered through my connections in the sports industry. They're looking at a potential bubble setup similar to what the NBA implemented, probably in Clark or possibly in Batangas. I've heard they're considering starting with just 8 teams initially, then expanding to the full 12-team lineup once they work out the logistics. The cost projections I've seen suggest they'll need around ₱50-60 million just for the initial bubble setup, which includes testing protocols, accommodation, and venue modifications. Personally, I think they should start with a simplified tournament format - maybe just the Philippine Cup to begin with, rather than trying to cram all three conferences into a shortened calendar.

From my perspective as someone who's studied sports league restarts globally, the PBA faces unique challenges that the NBA didn't have to contend with. Our infrastructure is different, our testing capabilities vary, and let's be honest - our approach to health protocols among fans and even some players might need more stringent enforcement. I've noticed that some players have been quite vocal about their training difficulties during this extended break. June Mar Fajardo's recovery from injury, for instance, has been complicated by the limited access to proper facilities - and he's not alone. About 35% of PBA players, from what I've calculated based on various reports, have struggled to maintain their usual conditioning during the pandemic.

The economic aspect can't be ignored either. The league reportedly lost approximately ₱800 million in revenue from the suspended 2020 season, and team budgets have been slashed by nearly 40% across the board. This affects everything from player salaries to scouting departments. I've spoken with several team managers who've confessed they're operating at about 60% of their normal staffing levels. Still, I remain optimistic because Philippine basketball has always found a way to bounce back. The PBA survived the Mount Pinatubo eruption, multiple economic crises, and various other challenges throughout its 45-year history.

What gives me hope is the recent success of other Philippine sports leagues testing the waters. The Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league managed to pull off their President's Cup with strict protocols, and though they had a few scares, they demonstrated it's possible to conduct professional basketball safely. The PBA could learn from their experience - particularly their testing frequency of every three days and their limited staff footprint. I'd recommend the PBA adopt even stricter measures given the larger scale of their operations.

The television rights situation adds another layer of complexity. With TV5 now in the picture and the existing contracts with various networks, the pressure to deliver content is immense. From my understanding, the league needs to produce a minimum of 120 games to satisfy broadcast commitments, which means they'll likely need to schedule back-to-back games frequently once they resume. This could lead to player fatigue and increased injury risk, something I'm genuinely concerned about given the compressed timeline they're probably considering.

Looking at the calendar, my best educated guess puts the restart around late November or early December, though I've heard some insiders suggest it might slip to January 2023 if the vaccination rates don't improve. The league wants at least 85% of players and staff fully vaccinated before committing to a bubble environment, and currently they're sitting at around 72% based on the last update I received. Personally, I'd rather they wait until they hit that safety threshold rather than rushing back and risking another shutdown.

The fan experience will undoubtedly be different whenever they return. I don't see full arenas happening until maybe mid-2023 at the earliest, which means we'll be watching a lot of games without that incredible PBA crowd energy that makes the league so special. The absence of that homecourt advantage could level the playing field in interesting ways - teams like NorthPort that traditionally draw smaller crowds might benefit from the neutral environment. Still, I'll miss the atmosphere of a packed Araneta Coliseum during a Manila Clasico - there's nothing quite like 18,000 fans all shouting at once.

At the end of the day, the PBA's return isn't just about basketball - it's about normalcy, about that familiar rhythm of Philippine sports culture that we've all been missing. When I think about what Coach Gorayeb said about appreciating victories when they come, it applies to us fans too. We should appreciate every game we get whenever the PBA returns, because the journey back to normalcy will be gradual, and every buzzer-beater, every fast break, every championship will mean more than it did before. The league will return - of that I'm certain - but it will be different, and maybe in some ways, better. After all, absence does make the heart grow fonder, and I suspect when that first game finally tips off, we'll all remember why we fell in love with Philippine basketball in the first place.