PBA commissioner Willie Marcial will try to convince Malacañang to give the league the go signal to finally launch its 46th season either in May or June, when he meets with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Wednesday, April 28.

Marcial said he and Barangay Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua will meet Medialdea and Senator Bong Go in Malacañang on Wednesday, to present the plans of the league.

Among the arguments for the season kick-off that the PBA will bring up is the successful staging of a bubble in Clark, Pampanga, last season.

The PBA completed the previous Philippine Cup in a bubble setting from October to December last year, with Ginebra being crowned as champion.

For the upcoming season, the PBA continues to explore options whether to stage another bubble, possibly in Ilocos Norte, or go with a closed circuit setup, potentially in Antipolo City.

“We will explain to them the success of our bubble,” Marcial said in Filipino during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

“There was not any major problem inside the bubble, so hopefully, we will be rewarded for that,” he added.

Marcial also said he will make an appeal for the fans who have been wondering when the PBA season will come off the wraps.

The PBA initially penciled an April 9 inaugural but was forced to push back the opening date several times as the government put Metro Manila and nearby provinces or “NCR Plus” under stricter quarantine measures.

“Honestly, a lot of fans are calling us and saying they want the season to push through,” Marcial said.

A May or June opening will allow the PBA to hold a two-conference season. An opening date beyond that may end up with the PBA putting together only one conference just like what it did last year.

Those plans are largely hinged on the vaccination program the PBA will implement.

“We want to vaccinate the PBA family. They said the vaccines will arrive by May or June. I’m hoping for that,” said Marcial. “When the vaccines arrive, 50 percent of my problems will be solved.” – Rappler.com