Metropolitan Basketball Association - Rules

Rules

The MBA has a set of its unique rules compared to the PBA:

1. The shot clock is reduced to 23 seconds, as opposed to the PBA's 24 seconds.
2. The time limit for a team to advance the ball over the center line is reduced to eight seconds, as opposed to PBA's 10 seconds. The PBA later adopted the 8-second limit in 2004, two years after the MBA disbanded.
3. Free-three - An option to trade a player's two free throws for a free three (one attempt at the three point arc above the free throw line, worth three points if successfully made) at the last two minutes of the fourth quarter. This option was later made available any time during the game by 1999.
4. One-for-one situation - There were two penalty situations in the MBA, first is if the team fouls of the opposing team reaches five fouls, the fouled player needed to shoot the first free throw before getting the second. Two free throws were only given to a player if the opposing team incurred ten team fouls.
5. Blitz Three - Any field goal converted within five seconds of a change of possession will be worth three points. A red siren is installed at the backboard to indicate the Blitz Period. (introduced in 2001)
6. Foreigners are allowed to play in the league, provided that the player is born in the Philippines.