SPORTS wasn’t spared when extreme lockdowns were imposed almost exactly a year ago today to combat the spread of the coronavirus or Covid-19.
The pandemic prevented everyone to do sports—from a simple jog around the neighborhood to a session at the gym. Amateur and professional competitions and leagues were halted as the world stood still and watched the virus precariously spread to almost every corner of earth.
Training and coaching went online and athletes and coaches had to make do with the confines of their homes, improvising with whatever they have at hand to mimic the gym or a competition.
And then came the proverbial silver lining and sports made a calculated comeback.
Football in some parts of Asia and Europe returned to action, sans the crowd. Small competitions in non-contact crept back, also without the fans cheering from the stands. Soon, boxing followed suit in confined venues.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) was perhaps the most celebrated of all comebacks with its bubble at Disney World in Florida becoming a template for other countries to learn from.
At home, it was the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) that defied the virus and did its own bubble in Clark in collaboration with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
For PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, staging the league’s 45th season in a bubble was all about giving hope and inspiration.
“Honestly, we, along with the PBA Board of Governors, wanted to give hope to the people,” Marcial told BusinessMirror Sports. “If the PBA can do it, they can also do it. For me, it’s also about giving the fans the entertainment they deserve.”
“Secondly, it’s to give hope to other sports, not just basketball,” he added.
The PBA bubble was tedious—and expensive to a tune of P60 million.
All 12 teams entered Clark in batches, in September, observing strict quarantine protocols. The elimination games commenced on October 11 and the season ended a success on December 9 with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel beating TNT Katropa in five games to hoist the Philippine Cup trophy.
Holding the bubble was tougher than anyone could imagine, Marcial said.
“That was our first time to do that. Before it even started, we encountered a lot [of problems],” he said. “You have to monitor the hotel, the food, and the protocols, all sorts of stuff.”
“We were new to that territory, we didn’t have any idea how it would turn out,” he added.
But because of Marcial’s undying commitment to the sport and fans, the PBA bubble was mission accomplished, sparking hope for Philippine sports and other leagues.
“It inspired other leagues,” Marcial said. “We became the template. As you saw and witnessed, football followed the setup after. We provided light for other league’s to have a guide.”
The Chooks to Go Pilipinas 3×3 held its President’s Cup in a bubble at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, in October Zamboanga City won the tournament and bagged a P1-million cash prize money after dismantling Nueva Ecija in the finals.
The Philippines Football League (PFF), thanks to generous sponsor Qatar Airways, kicked off its 2020 season also October in yet another bubble—team staff, players and league personnel were herded at the Seda Nuvali hotel in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, a short drive from the Philippine Football Federation National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite, for the matches.
PFL Commissioner Coco Torre’s insights and motive were no different from Marcial’s.
“It provided strength and hope and to let people know that Philippine football didn’t give up because of the pandemic,” Torre said.
“We took into account that football here in the Philippines is an industry and it’s also a source of livelihood,” Torre said. “The players, coaches—this is where they get their income so we could not ignore that fact, which is why we really pursued having a league for the year 2020.”
After 15 match days, United City Football Club claimed its fourth PFL crown in November after topping the table with 12 points, edging Kaya, which earned 11 points.
“For us, we showed competence,” Torre said. “Amid the pandemic where it is unprecedented and it was a very steep uphill climb, we were able to surpass the challenges.”
Inspiration and competence indeed as professional boxing was good to go, and so was volleyball with the Philippine Superliga holding its beach volleyball tournament this time in the Subic bubble just a month ago.
The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League is resuming its Lakan Cup with the semifinals and finals also set in Subic in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
“Amid the pandemic that’s all unprecedented, it was a very steep uphill climb, but we were able to surpass the challenges,” Torre said.
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