Crowd darling Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Bay Area Dragons renew their rivalry after being seeded together in the East Asia Super League this October.
The Kings and the Dragons, who last met last year in the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, were sorted in Group B in a ceremonial draw in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
The last time these two clashed, Ginebra came out on top, 114-99, In Game 7 of the finals in front of 54,589 fans inside the Philippine Arena last January.
Also joining Group B are Japan B. League champ Ryukyu Golden Kings which features former University of the Philippines cager Carl Tamayo, and Korean Basketball League runner-up Seoul SK Knights, who recently signed Juan Gomez de Liaño for a three-year contract.
Meanwhile in Group A, PBA Governors’ Cup champion TNT Tropang Giga faces Rhenz Abando-led KBL champion Anyang KGC, B. League silver medalist Chiba Jets, and P League + champion Taipei Fubon Braves.
All teams will face each other twice in a home-and-away format with the top two squads of each group advancing to the Final Four in March next year.
The PBA season took a break to give way for the preparation of Gilas Pilipinas for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China this September.
