Play halt extended indefinitely

MANILA, Philippines — Contact sports will remain in limbo for the remainder of January as the government extended the Alert Level 3 status in Metro Manila until the end of the month.

The PBA, which has suspended the Governors’ Cup indefinitely, is riding out the ongoing infection wave before setting the stage for the games’ restart.

“Malalaman natin by February kung ano’ng patutunguhan ng PBA,” commissioner Willie Marcial said yesterday when he guested on Sports on Air.

Asia’s first play-for-pay league is hoping that by next month, things will get a lot better. But if conditions won’t improve to safer levels, the board may have to determine whether to proceed or not.

“Yun ang maraming pag-uusapan. One: Paano ang imports? Two: Po-postpone lang ba at hintayin natin bumaba? Three:  Hindi na ba natin itutuloy, tigil na ba yung liga? Four: Papaano yung salaries ng players?” he said.

National teams’ training, which was originally slated this month, is also being eyed in February instead, according to Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez.

“Okay sana kung bababa. Kung bumababa, dire-diretso na tayo. Pero kung tumataas pa rin nang tumataas, doon tayo magsisimula ng  mga usapan kung ano’ng dapat gawin,” he added.