JB ABL gears up for possible return of hoops in Iloilo City

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

After months of inactivity, the most-sought after basketball league in Iloilo City is already taking baby steps for a possible comeback amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The JB Amateur Basketball League Elite Division Season II recently finalized and announced their proposed safety protocols to be observed for all the teams, players, and audience.

JB ABL founder and commissioner Jayphet Balbacal said that it is better to be prepared in times like this and set safety measures to help combat the pandemic.

In line with this, the following protocols have been decided upon:

Players who have flu-like symptoms must not be allowed to play;

Team owners must disclose to the committee which players recently traveled out of the country;

Players are to be allocated a separate entrance as to avoid contact with the audience;

Players are not allowed to mingle or take pictures with the audience;

Only players and staff are allowed in the bench, while the audience must occupy a separate area.

JB ABL will provide sanitary materials for the audience before entry, players must first disinfect before entering the court (JB ABL will provide the disinfectants), and the league will extend from the original one and a half month duration to two months as to give ample time to the committee to make the venues safe and research further in helping to stop the spread of the plague.

However, commissioner Balbacal and his committee are still waiting for the green light from the IATF and the government and said that the safety of everyone is still the top priority.

“Actually, I commend Executive Assistant for Sports Rudiver Jungco Sr. and our Mayor, Jerry Treñas kay sa tuod the actions they have done and the current proposals are advanced compared sa iban nga lugar in terms sa pag contain sang pandemic. Sa pag panaog naton from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) sa mas relaxed nga Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), 50 percent of the people from full capacity allowed na. So in light with the ongoing pandemic, I decided to create these strict measures para safe tanan sa aton nga liga if allowed na kita to get back in action. Gamay nalang nga antos ah, bululigay nalang kita,” said Balbacal in an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.