THE easing to general community quarantine (GCQ) of the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus was like a shot in the arm that the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) needed to open its 46th season next month.
“This is a big development for us,” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial told BusinessMirror on Friday, the morning after President Duterte announced that from MECQ, NCR Plus will now be under GCQ but with more restrictions.
Under GCQ, the 12 PBA squads can hold non-scrimmage practices anywhere in NCR Plus.
“This is beneficial to every team and we are hoping the [Covid-19] cases in Metro Manila go down,” Marcial said. “I hope it pushes for the better. We’re not going to stop praying to stop Covid-19.”
The PBA’s intention to open in June, Marcial said, got a major boost following the Games and Amusement Board’s (GAB) approval of the PBA’s proposed health protocols and guidelines that included two RT-PCR tests each time the teams hold their practice.
Despite the easing of quarantines, several PBA teams are going on with their plan to practice in local government units under modified GCQ. There, the teams could hold scrimmages or face-to-face training.
Rain or Shine Coach Chris Gavina said they will proceed to Batangas City Coliseum on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to for their training camp while awaiting an approval by Mandaluyong City for the use of the Reyes Gym.
Phoenix Super LPG team manager Paolo Bugia said they need to begin practicing by next week and are also waiting for the green light from Pasig City Hall. Blackwater and Magnolia are also waiting for a similar response from the Quezon City and San Juan City governments.
But the three teams will still proceed to Batangas City for a closed-circuit training system.
“If we don’t get an approval from the LGU, we will practice in Batangas, we are not going to stay there and we’ll be traveling back and forth,” Bugia said.
The closed-circuit system obliges the teams to follow a strict home-gym-home routine.
TNT KaTropa will still travel to Laoag City to set up camp at the Centennial Arena starting on Saturday until May 25, while Meralco will also hold a 10-day practice program in the Ilocos Norte capital.
NLEX, on the other hand, intends to hold a team building activity in Subic also later this month.
The entire Ilocos Norte and Zambales, including Subic, are under MGCQ.
Terrafirma assistant manager Ireneo “Iby” Bautista said they have no immediate plans of training in the provinces and are awaiting an approval from Parañaque City.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Alaska, Northport and San Miguel Beer are still finalizing their plans for their respective camps.
Marcial said protocol violators will be meted a P75,000 fine and a 10-day suspension.
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