PBA orders swab testing

MANILA, Philippines — The PBA has reinforced its health and safety protocols ahead of the government-approved training restart, upgrading the teams’ testing procedures for each person to three swab tests (RT-PCR) every month 10 days apart.

Initially, the pro league required the teams to undergo a rapid-swab-rapid testing pattern per month. But the board of governors led by PBA chairman Ricky Vargas decided to do it purely RT-PCR instead.

RT-PCR uses actual swabs from the person taken from the nose or throat, or both, which determines the actual presence of the coronavirus and if a person is currently infected.

“Upon suggestion of (Barangay Ginebra) governor Alfrancis Chua, the board upgraded all testing procedures to swab tests,” commissioner Willie Marcial told The STAR after yesterday’s board meeting.

“All tests will be conducted by San Miguel’s laboratories, and the different teams will be shouldering the cost of the procedures,” he added.

The squads should have completed their initial swab tests three days before the start of the non-scrimmage, small-group workouts being targeted for July 20 or 22.

At the same time, Marcial said the governors assured the players they will be taken care of  if they catch the virus or test positive during the sessions.

“The teams will shoulder the hospitalization of players if their respective players test positive for COVID-19. Just like when the players get injured. So there’s no need for any insurance,” he said.

The board officially signed off on the workouts after hearing the positive response and commitment of the coaches, team managers and players to the league-prepared protocols.

Coaches and managers gave their stamp of approval last Friday, expressing the same commitment given by the players in a previous meeting with Marcial last week.

With the training resumption good to go, the PBA will start preparing to push forward by requesting for scrimmages or possibly games.

“We’ll write another letter to the IATF by August for our next phase. Hopefully, we’ll get a favorable response,” said Marcial.

The PBA welcomed the IATF approval for the teams to resume restricted training of four players per session. Teams are looking at morning and after noon sessions at least five days a week until the PBA is allowed to increase the number.

The approval came inside the timeline drawn up by the PBA for practice sessions to resume no later than July, and actual games to proceed no later than October.