PLAYERS and team personnel still hesitant on getting anti-COVID vaccines may stand to lose a bunch starting in the PBA Governors Cup tentatively set to kick off Nov. 28.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said the pro league will strictly follow the in-venue guidelines set by the IATF regarding the conduct of contact sports, including a possible vaccine mandate.
The IATF has yet to release the full guidelines proposed by the MMDA, but Marcial has already apprised the 12 member teams of the ramifications to their unvaccinated players.
“Ang nakarating sa akin, nag-submit si (MMDA) Chairman (Benhur) Abalos sa IATF tungkol sa paano contact sports,” Marcial told Malaya-Business Insight.
“Kailangan daw lahat ng manonood vaccinated, at lahat ng maglalaro at participants, vaccinated,” added Marcial. “So, kung ‘yun ang utos wala tayong magagawa kundi sumunod. Kailangan vaccinated lahat at ‘yung mga hindi, bawal.”
Marcial has yet to come out with figures but said only about three to four percent of PBA players have yet to get their jabs.
“Ipapa-check ko ulit, pero sa huli naming bilang mga nasa apat na lang na players ang di pa bakunado,” said Marcial.
If the IATF requires the vaccine mandate, the unvaccinated players will not receive salaries while being barred not only from playing but also in practices.
“Nag-issue na kami ng memo before the (last) Philippine Cup para du’n sa mga nasa abroad pa, na no play, no pay,” explained Marcial. “Susundin pa rin natin ‘yun para dito naman sa mga hindi pa bakunado.”
The fans, who have been barred from the practice and playing venues in last year’s Philippine Cup bubble in Clark and in the same tournament’s recent edition that started at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig and finished in Bacolor, Pampanga, are set to be welcomed back in limited numbers.
But only those who have gotten their jabs would be allowed in.
“Sigurado naman tayong maglalaro. Ang tinitingnan natin, ‘yung fans,” said Marcial. “‘Pag umokay na ang IATF sa requirements ng MMDA at ng mga mayors sa Metro Manila, one, fully vaccinated dapat lahat and two, 50% (capacity), kailangan maipakita ‘yung vaccine card nila, at ‘yung protocols na temperature, mask, may distansiya rin.”
The IATF had previously given the go-signal for contact sports to be held in areas under Alert Level 2, such as Metro Manila, as long as they are approved by the local government units.
The PBA has initially targeted the Pasig venue as site of the season-ending Governors Cup but Marcial is currently in talks with the metro’s other cities to gain permission to play in those areas should the need arise.
