PBA fate known soon

MANILA, Philippines — With its tournament resumption endorsed by the Games and Amusements Board to the IATF, the PBA has set an important board meeting next week to decide on the fate of the stalled Governors’ Cup.

“Dyan natin malalaman kung saan ang patutunguhan ng PBA,” Marcial said during yesterday’s online PSA Forum. “Tutuloy ba natin o hindi na itutuloy? Anong gagawin sa imports at sa players? By next week, siguro mas may liwanag kung saan tayo pupunta.”

The pro league has suspended play and scrimmages indefinitely amid the surge in COVID-19 infection and the reimposition of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila. But it got a big boost recently when GAB chairman Baham Mitra informed Marcial that the agency is backing the PBA’s proposal to restart under the “Type C bubble (home-venue-home) setup.”

“Malaking bagay sa atin yun (GAB endorsement). From there, titignan natin. Magko-konsulta tayo,” he said.

Marcial also raised the possibility of adding more health and safety protocols should the PBA resume the games.

“Kung papalarin tayo mag-simula, baka magdadagdag tayo ng protocols, pati mga penalties, fines (for protocol breaches) may idadagdag tayo, itataas. Pinag-aaralan na,” he said.

This early, the PBA has tweaked the rules on the non-scrimmage, cluster practices that teams are allowed to conduct. From 10 persons per group, it reset the maximum number to seven, including four players, for each session.

Asia’s first play-for-pay league is also looking at administering booster shots by February ahead of its restart. Marcial said the MVP Sports Foundation has donated 500 Moderna booster shots to the PBA and the San Miguel Corp. Group has also pledged additional doses.

The hope is to tip off again next month and crown a champion by mid-April. After a couple of weeks, Marcial said the league intends to hold its Rookie Draft for Season 47.