ARE we about to hear a crowd of 8,000 cheering at the Smart Araneta Coliseum or some 7,000 fans clapping their hands sore at the Mall of Asia Arena?
These possibilities cropped up on Monday after Metro Manila mayors agreed over the weekend to allow the conduct, resumption and organization of contact sports following the significant decline in Covid-19 cases in the region.
“MMDA [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority] Chairman Benhur Abalos and all the Metro Manila mayors set guidelines that include vaccinated participants and at least 50 percent [capacity] vaccinated crowd,” Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner Willie Marcial told BusinessMirror on Monday.
“We are just waiting for the response of the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases]. Once we get a positive response, we’ll go for it.”
The PBA, according to Marcial, intended to return with the Governors’ Cup on November 28 at the earliest—depending upon the arrival of all 12 imports. And with the easing of protocols to Alert Level 2, the IATF allowed indoor venues to accommodate individuals at 50 percent capacity.
The Smart Araneta Coliseum lists its seating capacity at 16,500 and the MOA Arena at 15,000.
The PBA played the Philippine Cup without fans at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga, and has gotten the approval of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto to hold its inaugural 3×3 tournament at the Ynares Sports Arena which sits only 3,000.
The league also announced earlier that if it returns to Metro Manila, the import-laced second conference will be at the Ynares Sports Arena.
“But everything still depends on finances and health and safety protocols of the local government units,” Marcial said, referring to Quezon City, Pasay City, Antipolo and Pasig City.
Terrafirma Head Coach John Cardel, meanwhile, said that the leadership of veteran combo guard Alex Cabagnot would be a great asset to the Dyip’s bid in the second conference.
Cardel said they didn’t think twice when San Miguel Beer offered Cabagnot for Simon Enciso over the weekend.
The 38-year-old Cabagnot’s 16-year experience in the pro league and winning ways would elevate Dyip’s standard, according to Cardel.
“He [Cabagnot] really knows how to win despite his age. I am hoping he will bring us to the playoffs or at least in quarterfinals,” Cardel said on Monday, adding Cabagnot would be at the team’s practice on Tuesday.
“We have another veteran after Aldrech Ramos. I know him very well,” Cardel said.
Cabagnot’s season average from 2005 until 2020 is pegged at 12.3 points, 5.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds. He has nine PBA titles all with San Miguel Beer.
San Miguel Beer Coach Leo Austria, on the other hand, said they initiated the Cabagnot trade because of “changes they want to implement after being stagnant for the last three conferences.”
“Simon played really well during his stint with TNT and Blackwater. He is the ideal aggressive player that we wanted for our team,” Austria said. “This is just another opportunity for us after acquiring Vic Manuel from Northport for Arwind Santos last week.”
Enciso will be playing in his sixth team in the PBA after NLEX and Phoenix in 2015, Alaska in 2017, TNT in 2020 and Blackwater in the last conference.
As a member of the Bossing last Philippine Cup, he averaged a team-best 13.7 points for the Bossing who lost all their games in the in the previous Philippine Cup.
Blackwater Coach Ariel Vanguardia also confirmed on Monday that they are set to acquire NLEX’s swingman Mike Ayonayon and 6-foot-4 Will McAloney in exchange for 6-foot-7 center-forward Marion Magat and a second round pick in the 2024 rookie draft.