Marcial says bubble play is for fans

MANILA, Philippines — PBA commissioner Willie Marcial will enter the Clark bubble today after undergoing the mandatory procedural five-day home quarantine from swab testing and is staying until the season ends about a week before Christmas. It’ll be a long haul away from home for Marcial who celebrates his birthday on Monday but like the players, coaches and everyone involved in the restart, he believes the work to be done is worth the sacrifice. The PBA will reboot with a doubleheader at the Angeles University Foundation gym tomorrow.

“Sa totoo lang, ang motivation ko to bring the PBA back is the fans,” said Marcial. “Sa pandemia, it’s the least we can do at matagal hinihintay ng mga fans ang pagbabalik ng PBA. Mapapanood na naman ang PBA sa TV. This isn’t for us, not for the players, this is for the fans. Higit sa dalawang buwan layo sa pamilya at sa bubble lang kami. Sa mga oras na mapapanood ang PBA sa TV o livestream, at least hindi iniintindi ang pandemia. The PBA is back for the fans.”

Marcial said creating the bubble wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the PBA Board of Governors, Bases Conversion and Development Authority CEO and chief testing czar of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 secretary Vince Dizon, Clark Development Corp. president Noel Manankil, Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, IATF, Sen. Bong Go, GAB chairman Baham Mitra, PBA staff, media and others who backed up the ambitious P65-million project. So far, it’s been smooth sailing since the Quest Hotel in the Mimosa Leisure Estate opened its doors to welcome the PBA delegations last Sept. 28. Player attendance is expected to be 100 percent by opening day tomorrow and no positive case has been reported in the bubble.

There will be a maximum of 49 game days to schedule 65 games in the eliminations, eight in the quarterfinals, 10 in the semifinals and seven in the finals. The calendar may shorten depending on the duration of each playoff series. The estimate is 350 individuals, excluding TV5 and PBA Rush/Cignal’s production team, will comprise the PBA delegation in the bubble. The contingent includes 41 PBA officials and staff and five members from print and online media. Each team is limited to 15 players and 16 referees, including five graded Class A, will work the games.

Marcial said the teams that are able to adjust quickly to the bubble conditions will be at an advantage particularly in the early stages of the eliminations. “Halos every other day ang laro ng mga teams because our schedule for the eliminations is every day,” he said. “Kaya I’m sure coaches will pace their players and deepen their rotation. Matagal walang laro kaya makikita natin, players will gradually build up their timing sa passing, shooting at lundag.”

He also said Phoenix forward Calvin Abueva’s reactivation remains on hold. Abueva’s license has been reinstated by GAB and he’s in the bubble. Abueva is continuing compliance conditions via online M-W-F sessions and when he’s declared fit to play, the PBA will review his case. It’s possible that Abueva may be cleared to play during the eliminations depending on the progress of his compliance.