The inaugural PBA 3×3 tournament will tip off as scheduled on November 20 following the approval of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto to stage the games at the Ynares Arena.

According to a report on the PBA website, commissioner Willie Marcial said the league has yet to receive an official letter from Sotto, but the mayor has already given his go signal through social media.

“I’m asking for your cooperation: contact sports are still prohibited except if there is a special permit like the PBA,” Sotto wrote on Facebook in Filipino on Thursday, November 11.

Thirteen teams, composed of 10 PBA squads and three guest teams, will participate in the 3×3 league that consists of three conferences per season.

Only Alaska and Blackwater did not field affiliate 3×3 teams among the 12 PBA squads, while guest teams include the Zamboanga Valientes, Pioneer Pro Tibay, and Platinum Karaoke.

Meanwhile, the targeted November 28 opening of the Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Arena has yet to be finalized as some foreign reinforcements have yet to join their PBA teams.

It will be the first time since the 2019 season that the PBA will welcome imports after it staged just one conference – the Philippine Cup – in 2020.

“Because of the pandemic, there are difficulties in processing papers and imports have to go through quarantine protocols. Then they have to practice first with their teams,” Marcial said. – Rappler.com