Dyip take first crack on draft day

MANILA, Philippines — PBA teams may return to the gyms and start holding non-scrimmage practices by Monday pending inspection of their training venues and clearance from local government units (LGUs).

Commissioner Willie Marcial said the pro league already received a favorable response from the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) for its request to conduct physical conditioning sessions.

“Okay na. Magsisimula na ang practices sa Jan. 18. Walang scrimmage (We got the go signal to start non-scrimmage practices by Jan. 18),” Marcial told The STAR yesterday.

According to Marcial, the regulatory body for professional sports gave two additional conditions for the practices heading to the planned Season 46 kickoff on April 9.

“One, kailangan nila makita yung facilities and two, kailangang makakuha ng LGU permit (They need to see and approve the facilities and teams must also secure a permit from the LGU where they are training),” said Marcial.

He explained that the squads will essentially follow the health and safety protocols implemented last year when they first resumed non-scrimmage training after the lockdown.

Per the IATF’s Joint Administrative Order (JAO), the PBA squads can do physical conditioning and non-contact strength training in batches in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) like Metro Manila.

The JAO dictates that the teams can hold sessions for five players plus five team personnel at a time in a court. Participants must be tested before commencing training and thereafter undergo testing once every two weeks.

For the duration of the practices, teams will observe the “closed-circuit” bubble. They have to follow a strict home-gym-home routine and register their whereabouts and interactions with other people in a logbook.

Meanwhile, Terrafirma Dyip will get the chance to name the No. 1 draft pick for the third consecutive year when the 2021 PBA Draft is held on March 14.

The pro league released the order of drafting yesterday based on the standings in the last Philippine Cup. The 12th-placed Dyip will take the first crack at what’s largely viewed as the deepest talent pool in years.

After the Dyip, it will be NorthPort, then NLEX (acquired in a past trade deal with Blackwater), the Road Warriors again, Rain or Shine, Magnolia, Alaska, San Miguel Beer, Meralco, Phoenix, NorthPort (from TNT) and reigning champ Barangay Ginebra.

For the second round, NorthPort will select first, followed by Blackwater, the Elite again, Phoenix, ROS, Magnolia, Alaska, NLEX, Alaska, ROS back to back, and Ginebra.

Marcial said he expects the proceedings to reach as far as the fourth round.