PBA uncertain to push import-graced conferences due to COVID-19

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

There is a high possibility that Filipino fans won’t be seeing Justin Brownlee suiting up in a Brgy. Ginebra uniform or even Chris McCullough reuniting with June Mar Fajardo and the rest of the San Miguel Beermen.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial expressed that while he is open to pursuing import-graced conferences in the league (Commissioner and Governor’s Cup), they are reluctant because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kung may vaccine, wala tayong problema. Kung walang vaccine, papaano? Paano ‘yung isolation, quarantine nila? Paano kapag magpapalit ng import. Kapag i-quarantine mo, baka tapos na ‘yung liga natin. May mga ganung aspects,” Marcial said.

As of this time, commissioner Marcial is looking into the extension of the PBA Philippine Cup to fill in the absence of the Commissioner and Governor’s Cup.

“As of now, doon muna tayo sa Philippine Cup tapos tingnan natin kung puwede na ‘yung imports sa susunod na season,” said Marcial. “Mga July ‘yun, baka puwede na ang imports pero papayag ba ang imports na pumunta dito?” added Marcial.

However, Marcial together with the PBA board will now start to explore options on how to fly in their imports for the conferences and at the same time maintain the strict health protocols they started to impose after a successful Clark bubble.

If international travel will get stricter due to the rising cases of COVID-19, fans will have to expect that 2021 will be the year of the Philippine Cup.