PBA board to discuss league protocols on June 3

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The PBA board of governors is set to meet on June 3, their first physical gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anticipating the national government will ease quarantine restrictions, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said that they will be mapping out all protocols to be followed in their plan of a league comeback.

Ricky Vargas of TNT Katropa, the chairman of the board, said that they will be booking the PBA Office’s Viewing Room while observing physical distancing.

Marcial added that those who won’t be joining the meeting are still open to join online via Zoom, the platform used in their past two online meetings.

“By June 1, we’ll know if NCR will transition to GCQ (general community quarantine) and if practices will be allowed already. So we have to be ready with the practice protocols,” Marcial said.

Marcial also emphasized that they will be taking baby steps for the league’s return by first allowing the approval of the players’ practices and conditioning in their respective facilities.

It was also decided that scrimmages among the team practices won’t be allowed as of the moment and all should always practice physical distancing in the bench areas.

Meanwhile, Marcial also pointed out that on May 30, SMC’s mass testing for COVID-19 of all PBA personnel, players, and coaches will take place.