PBA continues swab testing

MANILA, Philippines — The PBA has started subjecting key personnel to COVID-19 tests as it hopes to resume some activities with Metro Manila moving to the more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ).

Commissioner Willie Marcial and his staff, numbering close to 40, got tested yesterday in preparation to their physical return to work by June 1.

“It (test) went well. The result will be released next week,” Marcial told The STAR after undergoing swab tests at the SMC headquarters.

Marcial said the plan is to get the Commissioner’s Office fully operational by June.

The league office in Libis underwent a six-hour disinfecting procedure yesterday to make the place safer for the physical return to work of initially half the work force tomorrow.

“Of course we’re hoping everybody’s negative and that we can all go back to attend to our duties, full force, by June,” said Marcial, also hoping that teams can be allowed to return to the gyms and do individual workouts “by shift” under GCQ.

On Wednesday, the board of governors will hold its meeting at the PBA’s viewing room to further discuss the league’s return plans and protocols for the new normal.

Marcial and his staff were tested a few days after players and coaches from the San Miguel Corp. umbrella – Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel Beer and Magnolia Hotshots – were swabbed.

Other squads are expected to follow suit with their testing, which will actually serve as an integral part of the league’s protocols for the resumption of practices and possibly games.

Meralco coach Norman Black said the Bolts will have their test as soon as the government gives the green light for the PBA’s return.

“We’re raring to go. As soon as we get the okay, we’ll have rapid testing for our players and we’ll try to get back to the court as quickly as we’re allowed,” Black said in an interview on Power & Play on Radyo Singko.