PBA still unsure of 'bubble' format in 46th season
MANILA, Philippines — The discussion is still open on what type of "bubble" the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will employ once it kicks off its 46th season by April this year.
A full bubble was staged last year in Clark City, Pampanga, where they were able to stage a single conference in the setup. But the financial ramifications of staging another bubble as stringent as the last may make it more difficult.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial opened up about how the league barely broke even after the expenses of last year's bubble.
"Medyo tumabla tayo nang konti... Napantayan natin kahit nang konti. Hindi malayo 'yung cost natin, pero ang bigat pa rin [sa bulsa]," said Marcial on an interview aired Saturday on Noli Eala's Power & Play.
The league is therefore exploring other options, including a "closed-circuit" bubble.
"Titignan natin sa April kung anong klaseng bubble... Pwede ba 'yung closed-circuit bubble? Or 'yung bubble na ginawa [na] natin?," said Marcial.
The closed-circuit bubble would mean that players will have a strict home-venue-home setup where they will avoid any unnecessary travels outside of PBA games.
A closed-circuit bubble would do away with players needing to be away from their families during the season.
This was also proposed by Barangay Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua Saturday.
"I hope next time, if we do a bubble, we'll do it at Araneta but with everyone allowed to go home. Or if that's not possible, we can use the hotels nearby," Chua said on Cignal's The Chasedown program.
Marcial, however, said that there would be numerous factors at play on how the league will ultimately decide on the season format.
"Anong ekonomiya natin [that time]? Anong papayagan ng gobyerno para makapaglaro ng PBA? So, as of now, hindi ko pa masagot," Marcial said of any finality on a setup for the season.
"Siguro by February, or by March, malalaman na natin," he said.
Clark City, Pampanga, meanwhile, will host another full bubble in the FIBA 2021 Asia Cup qualifiers third window come February.
Whether the PBA will return for its 46th season in the same venue or not is yet to be seen.
How are sports bodies responding to the coronavirus pandemic? Follow this page for updates. Photo from AFP
Novak Djokovic declares on Saturday that he "likes his chances" of winning a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown, despite lingering injury worries.
After missing last year's tournament when he was deported over his Covid vaccination stance, the Serbian star is back at Melbourne Park and in sizzling form.
He ended the 2022 season by winning the ATP Finals and began the new year with his 92nd career title at the Adelaide International. — AFP
The tennis officials say former world number one Novak Djokovic arrived in Australia on Tuesday almost one year after he was deported for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The nine-time Australian Open champion was initially banned from the country for three years after losing a high-stakes legal battle in January over his vaccine status.
Australia has since lifted its requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination against Covid. -- AFP
About 30,000 runners, some wearing face masks, took part on Sunday in a chilly and smoggy first Beijing Marathon since 2019 after Covid cancelled previous races.
It was the first major sporting event in the Chinese capital since the Winter Olympics in February.
China continues to adhere to a strict zero-Covid policy, with harsh lockdowns, quarantines and testing regimens imposed after even the smallest outbreaks.
As a result, only people living in Beijing were allowed to take part in the race, unlike previous editions, which had attracted foreign runners.
Some runners kept their face masks on for the race, which Anubaike Kuwan from Xinjiang won in two hours, 14 minutes and 34 seconds.
The marathon was meant to resume last year but was cancelled again to avoid any outbreaks of Covid ahead of the Beijing Olympics. -- AFP
Visiting FIFA president Gianni Infantino pledges to help "reform and transform" Indonesian football, two weeks after the country suffered one of the worst disasters in the sport's history.
Infantino met President Joko Widodo in the capital Jakarta, a year before the Under-20 World Cup is due to be held in the Southeast Asian nation.
"We will reform and transform football in this country", Infantino says, flanked by Widodo. — AFP
A tearful Roger Federer ends his historic career with defeat alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal in a doubles match at the Laver Cup in the early hours of Saturday.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion, 41, and Nadal, playing for Team Europe, went down 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 9-11 against Team World's Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock. — AFP
- Latest
- Trending
