CONVENIENCE that should help their players get back into game-shape quicker is the main factor why some teams are shifting to other practice venues in Batangas.
After conducting their first conditioning sessions in Batangas City, Ginebra, San Miguel Beer, Blackwater, Alaska and Rain or Shine have changed venues, all still within the provincial limits.
Starting yesterday, the Kings and Beermen used the Aquamarine Recreational and Event Center in Lipa while the Bossing and Elasto Painters took their act to the Splendido Golf and Country Club in Laurel.
The Aces have moved to a private resort in San Jose and, like the rest, hope that the government would ease the quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila by next week to allow pro teams to wind up their PBA pre-season practices in the Big City.
The PBA plans to kick off its season-opening Philippine Cup in late June and got its teams back on the basketball courts after the IATF allowed them to practice in areas under GCQ, the current quarantine level in Batangas and Ilocos Norte, where Meralco and TNT have set up camp.
NLEX is in Subic, also under GCQ, while Terrafirma, NorthPort, Magnolia and Phoenix remained in the Batangas provincial capital.
“One week lang naman iyon, then Metro Manila na… sana,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.
“Para ma-fast track pa-kondisyon, kasi nga magkakaroon kami ng more time on the practice court,” added Austria.
There would also be no scheduling conflict with Ginebra, added Austria. “Sa umaga sila, hapon kami,” he explained.
Getting more time on the practice courts than the mere two hours allotted them in the Batangas City venues and time slots more to their liking are the main reasons given by Blackwater coach Nash Racela.
“Right now ang schedule na ibinigay (in Batangas City) two hours lang and very erratic ‘yung scheduling,” Racela said.
“First practice namin ng (last) Thursday 6 to 8 p.m. tapos bibiyahe pa sila (players) so around midnight na nakauwi. Then the following day 11:30 a.m. ibinigay na start namin so mahirap talaga. Ibig sabihin mga 8 nasa kalye ka na ulit,” added Racela.
“At least with Splendido nadagdagan kami ng isang oras, nakakuha kami ng three hours. Tapos schedule mas okay naman. Mas convenient para sa amin.”
All the teams are using the early stages of their preparations to get players back into game-shape following a two-month layoff due to the quarantine restrictions before plunging into full-contact scrimmages.
“Siyempre gusto sana namin by the second week kahit hindi pa buo, ‘yung mga competitive drills na. ‘Yung 3-on-3, 4-on-4,” said Racela, whose team has seven newcomers.
“Kasi sometimes kapag inilagay mo sila dyan hindi nila mapigilan sarili nila. So baka magka-injury. The moment we’re ready, banat na iyon, scrimmage na,” added Racela.
“Siguro two weeks okay na. Hindi pa sila na-kundisyon ng husto, pero at least napagpag na. Hindi ka na matatakot diinan sila. Pagbalik dito sa Metro Manila actual scrimmage na iyon, okay na okay na iyon. Three weeks for chemistry.”
