“We know that it’s doable that’s why when Commissioner Barrios came on board that’s one of the areas that he was looking at,” Santos said.

“Right now we’re thinking of ways how to make the two import conferences different from each other. Kasi ang thinking ng mga fans magkapareho lang ‘yung two conferences na may import,” he added.

Recently, Barrios said that a three-conference format is favorable to the league and also to its followers, instead of the current two-conference setup of all-Filipino Philippine Cup and import-laden Fiesta Cup.

Barrios, who is currently vacationing in the United States, has said that while teams will have more exposure through game schedules and additional revenue to the PBA, fans will be entertained because of extra playoff games as three championships will be at stake in a season.

From 1975 to 1976, the three conferences were known as First, Second and Third, the last two with imports.

Then it changed to All-Filipino, Open and Invitational from 1977 to 1980.

In 1981, the league only had two conferences, Open and Reinforced Filipino, but since 1982, the three conferences returned, and from 1993, the conferences were named All-Filipino Cup, Governors Cup and Commissioner’s Cup.

That changed, however, in 2004 to two-conference format during the time of former commissioner Noli Eala, who initiated the move to give way to the league’s commitment in several international competitions.

Santos though sees no problem with that.

“We’ll still start in October and ends by June or July.

That way hindi pa rin mag-overlap ‘yung schedule namin sa mga international tournaments sanctioned by FIBA,” Santos said.

With three conferences, teams have a chance to win a rare ‘grand slam’ title.

Only three teams accomplished that feat, Crispa Redmanizer in 1976 and 1983, San Miguel Beer in 1989 and Alaska in 1996.