Batangas open to hosting PBA workouts

MANILA, Philippines — With Metro Manila still under stricter quarantine status, nearby Batangas City looms as a possible training hub for the PBA teams in the leadup to the targeted season opening in June.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said Batangas City Mayor Beverley Dimacuha and Rep. Marvey Mariño were receptive to the idea of hosting the closed-circuit practices during their initial talks via phone the other day.

Batangas City is currently under the more lenient general community quarantine (GCQ) level, making it a viable alternative site to the modified enhanced community quarantine-classified capital.

The Batangas City Coliseum and the Batangas State University Gym, which previously hosted PBA road games, were identified as the training centers for the squads.

“The LGU (local government unit of Batangas) is okay with it. Now we have to get the JAO (Joint Administrative Order from the Department of Health, Games and Amusements Board and Philippine Sports Commission), and maybe our teams can start practices by middle of May,” Marcial said.

The PBA executive and city officials led by Dimacuha and Mariño will sit down this week to finalize the details, especially the health and safety protocols in the Batangas facilities.

Marcial said he has also relayed the PBA’s new plans to GAB chairman Baham Mitra.

“Chairman Baham said he will review the protocols and guidelines for each of the different quarantine levels,” he said.

PBA clubs were forced to stop their non-scrimmage cluster training last March when Metro Manila and four nearby provinces collectively called “NCR Plus” were placed under enhanced community quarantine following the alarming surge of cases.

It has since been downgraded to MECQ, a status that will last until May 14. Batangas, a province that was originally part of the “NCR Plus” bubble, has already shifted to GCQ last Saturday.

According to Marcial, there are six or seven ballclubs looking to hold practices in Batangas, an alternative suggested by Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua due to its proximity and accessibility.

One or two squads, meanwhile, are said to be considering the offer of Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Manotoc to open up a camp over in Laoag, which is under modified GCQ.