PBA cancels games; Wack-Wack golf closed

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has ordered the suspension of play in the just-inaugurated Season 45 Philippine Cup, implementing what it felt was the best option in the midst of the worsening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the board of governors unanimously approved yesterday the shelving of hostilities in the All-Filipino “until further notice” in consideration of the current public health emergency.

Meanwhile, the elite Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City has been temporarily shuttered after a recent visit by a member who is under monitoring for possible COVID-19 infection. The member’s guest, a foreigner, tested positive for the coronavirus when he returned to his home country.

In a letter dated March 10 addressed to its members, club management said it would be closing its premises beginning yesterday to disinfect and sanitize the premises “to ensure that our Club remains a safe place for everyone.”

The PBA also put on hold the D-League games, the coming 3x3 tournament and other activities such as Home Court, Batang PBA and practices of teams in schools.

“It is our paramount duty and responsibility to ensure the health and safety of our fans, players, teams, officials and staff,” Marcial said.

The league, he said, will “assess the effects of COVID-19 on a day-to-day basis guided by the parameters set by the Department of Health and World Health Organization, and will remain committed to conduct its games and activities in a safe and responsible manner for all its stakeholders.”

The indefinite suspension of matches is expected to stretch the new season well into summer of 2021. 

“Matatapos tayo ng (We will finish by) March or April (2021) for this (45th) season, depende sa sitwasyon dito sa (depending on the situation of) COVID-19,” estimated Marcial, ruling out the shortening of each tournament given the PBA’s commitment to sponsors on the number of games.

The uncertainty of the resumption of play also impacts the league revenue-wise, but Marcial said safety and health trumped all other considerations.

While games are on hold, Marcial said the 12 PBA teams will continue to train. He, however, discouraged the squads from conducting tune-up matches among themselves.

“Hindi pa namin pinag-usapan yan (tune-up) pero sa akin, sana wala rin muna,” he said.

According to Marcial, the PBA board considered several options, including holding games in a closed arena, but found the suspension of games most prudent. He said even in closed door, there are still some 300 to 400 people present – officials, players, TV crew, media.

“Tignan natin ang sitwasyon sa mga darating na araw (We’ll see how the situation develops),” he said.

The PBA’s course of action was welcomed by Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“I believe the PBA is doing the right thing by postponing the games. There’s a new reality to the world and I think stepping back and finding the right way to attack the spread of virus is a good move,” he said.

“Humans (Filipinos especially) are adaptive so I think we’ll find ways to adapt and adjust to this new reality we’re all battling,” he added.

The Mandaluyong City government, meanwhile, said the management was recently informed that the patient had played in the golf course. All club members, guests and staff who have encountered the patient were currently being monitored.

“The club is on a ‘voluntary closure’ because they detected a person under monitoring who played. So to avoid a scare, the facility was closed for cleaning and fumigation,” Jimmy Isidro, chief of staff of Mayor Menchie Abalos, said in an interview.

The club has also postponed its scheduled tournaments for now.

Isidro added that he was told by the club’s management that the whole golf course would also be fumigated and employees would be reporting to do the sanitizing and disinfection of the facilities.

The city government has yet to find out if the guest had possibly gotten the virus in the Philippines or in another country. The Department of Health has not issued a statement on this patient. – Neil Jayson Servallos