Restart prospect brighter

PBA inspired by duterte pronouncement

MANILA, Philippines — Following the issuance of the government clearance last Monday, the ball is now in the hands of the PBA teams to make their gradual return work.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said it’s a go as Metro Manila stays under general community quarantine as announced by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The PBA is even more excited about its chances for tournament resumption soon, with Duterte himself pronouncing the country would ease to normal before the end of the year.

“Kay Presidente na galing na malapit na ang vaccine, so lalong lumilinaw ang pag-asa ng PBA na makabalik,” said Marcial.

Per the Joint Administrative Order signed by the Department of Health, the Games and Amusements Board and the Philippine Sports Commission, practice (contact drills) and actual games (5-on-5) for professional basketball “may be allowed in low risk areas provided that minimum public health standards are met.”

And so the squads are taking careful steps to ensure everything’s in order for their much-awaited workouts and fully in sync with government health regulations.

San Miguel Beer team manager Gee Abanilla said all their training plans are guided by the protocols mandated by JAO and the league itself.

“We are just very conscious and very particular at this point on the safety protocol and guidelines that will be implemented on the upcoming small group workouts,” Abanilla told The STAR.

“We’ve attended an online discussion on the JAO on how sports can slowly, but surely, get back on its feet so we made our own preparation as to how we could comply with all of this,” he added.

The IATF allowed the PBA to hold physical conditioning and non-contact strength training for a maximum of five players per batch in areas under general community quarantine like Metro Manila.

The number will stretch to as many as 10 each group in areas under modified GCQ with modifiers. This reportedly made some teams consider moving to MGCQ localities and wrap its personnel in a bubble there to maximize the allowed sessions.

“Papayagan ko yon (training in a bubble) but I have to see their guidelines first,” said Marcial.

Before going to the gyms, the squads will undergo swab testing on Aug. 6 and 7. Upon getting the results, the clubs should be good to go by Aug. 10 or 11.

NLEX Corp. AVP Ronald Dulatre said the Road Warriors are ready for the PBA bubble.

“We are preparing our gym and weights room at FCL Centre. As the facility is dedicated to the NLEX Road Warriors, we just need to protect the bubble,” he said.

“We also have the shooting machine ready - to lessen the contact (during the drills),” he added.