Japan B. League cancels 2021 All-Star due to COVID-19

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

Nothing is safe as long as COVID-19 is still around.

After a perfectly carried out plan by the organizers and committee of the Japan B. League All-Star festivities in Mito City, League Chairman Shinji Shimada and the rest of the board decided to scrap one of their highlights of the year after an outbreak of COVID-19.

Mito City, where the events will be held, was considered an “infection spread municipality”, the reason why Japanese organizers were quick with their decision.

 

“We had discussions with Ibaraki Prefecture and Mito City about holding the event yesterday, but the stance of the league is to decide the holding policy according to the requests of the national and local governments, and our decision is the future league,” said Shimada.

 

Aside from the collective decision of the B. League to formally cancel the two-day All-Star event, Mito City officials also requested for its cancellation.

 

“After seeing the recent issuance of emergency declarations in the three prefectures of Tokyo and the spread of infection in Ibaraki Prefecture and Mito City, we of course considered whether to hold the event, but the decision to cancel the match will stabilize the future league matches,” Shimada added.

 

First Filipino and Asian import of the Japanese professional league Thirdy Ravena was supposed to play in the festivities but was sidelined due to a right hand injury.