PBA players under SMC test negative for COVID-19

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang is always true to his word.

After pledging that he will organize mass testing for all the PBA players, staff, and personnel for COVID-19, it was confirmed that the testing already started and was conducted first to all players under his conglomerate: The Brgy. Ginebra, San Miguel Beermen, and the Magnolia Hotshots.

“We are happy to report that all of our basketball players tested negative from the virus,” said Ang, who is just starting the mass testing to be done to all employees of SMC.

Ang estimated 70,000 employees including third-party providers and vowed to include them in the mass testing together with the PBA family that he recently proposed to help for their league restart.

Just a week ago, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial called for a first-ever face-to-face meeting with his board and will discuss the protocols to be observed and the steps to be taken for the eyed resumption of the league this year.

The first step Marcial emphasized was the mass testing planned by Ang, adding that this move will be the basis for their protocols and guidelines.

“While we all miss the PBA, we need to first create a safe environment to limit the spread of the virus,” Ang explained.