PBA teams set to resume practices on May 18

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial just confirmed that the green light to resume the team practices has already been granted.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases just approved PBA’s request and scrimmages under GCQ and MGCQ can already push through.

Earlier, seven teams expressed their desire of setting up a training camp in Batangas where Marcial is currently located.

Marcial and the rest of the PBA committee are closely examining and looking into the possible venues where the teams can set up their practice bubbles and begin training.

Under their initial proposal, the Batangas City Coliseum and the Batangas State University Gym will be made available for the teams who wish to extend their training ground there.

“Okay na ang LGU (local government unit). JAO (Joint Administrative Order from the Department of Health, Games and Amusements Board, and Philippine Sports Commission) na lang, and maybe our teams can start practices middle of May,” said Marcial.

With Batangas already committed to hosting some teams, Laoag was also mentioned to become one of the venues where some teams can also conduct scrimmages.

However, the resumption of the PBA’s 46^th season is still uncertain after the final planned 2021 calendar was forced to move after COVID-19 cases in the Philippines rose.