PBA 3×3 will be staging three conferences, where six legs and a Grand Finals for each will be held—totaling to 18 legs and three Grand Finals for the season.

Alaska’s Dickie Bachmann, PBA 3×3 Chairman, has announced plans for the season and reported that the half-court matches will be held side-by-side with its five-a-side counterpart once the league begins.

“After meeting with TV5 a couple of days ago, we’ve decided that the best scenario to launch the PBA 3×3 was to hold it and PBA 5-on-5 in the same venue,” he said in Tuesday’s virtual press conference after the Board of Governors’ two-day planning session at the league’s office in Libis.

Bachmann also announced that the maiden conference of PBA 3×3 will run alongside the 2021 Philippine Cup, while the other two conferences will be conducted in the mornings of the import-laden 2021 Governors’ Cup.

Meanwhile, Alaska has decided not to join in the half-court competitions to avoid conflicts with Bachman who is currently the PBA 3×3 chairman.

“When Gov. Dickie was appointed the chairman of PBA 3×3, he also gave up Alaska in terms of Alaska joining the PBA 3×3. That’s a sacrifice for him as well,” said PBA chairman Ricky Vargas.

All 11 member teams in the PBA are set to send squads in the 3×3, however, the Board has decided not to publicize the names of the other five companies yet who will participate in the league.

“I guess the key here is creating a pool for SBP, a big batch of players and having points already to qualify for the tournaments,” said Bachmann.

Moreover, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president and Meralco governor Al Panlilio also acknowledged the birth of the PBA 3×3 as the country’s premier league focuses on forming a pool to compete in future international tournaments.

“That’s why the PBA 3×3 is excellent because now, we can really build a track of players that can focus on 3×3. So that’s another path to the Olympics, aside from 5-on-5,” he said.

“We’re building that ability for us to generate points, and that’s how we are ranked at FIBA, through the PBA 3×3 which actually FIBA is very supportive of. (FIBA has) given a lot of support with Gov. Dickie’s efforts and they want to make sure that we’re successful there. So that’s gonna be good long term for the 3×3.”

PBA 3×3 games will be held every Friday and Saturday starting at 9 a.m. and anticipated to finish at around 2 p.m., where it will then give way to the regularly scheduled 5-on-5 games.