DESPITE the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and its subsidiary Clark Development Corp. will not be deterred in hosting the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
It’s all systems go, with the games set to be played in a bubble starting this Wednesday at the Angeles University Foundation Gym in Clark.
South Korea and Gilas Pilipinas, with 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto on board, were the first two teams to arrive yesterday at the Quest Hotel, with Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, and China expected to follow last night.
In an online press conference yesterday led by BCDA President and CEO Vince Dizon and CDC president and CEO Manuel Gaerlan, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Deputy Executive Director Butch Antonio said the FIBA has put up stringent health and safety protocols for the tilt.
“It starts on day minus 12, meaning 12 days before leaving. They will have their RT-PCR test, day minus 7, day minus 2, upon arrival, another PCR test will be made, and midway through on the 17th,” said Antonio, who was joined by SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios and SBP special assistant to the president Ryan Gregorio in the press con.
“Testing is done very much regularly just to make sure the athletes are safe,” he added.
As of last Friday, according to its city government website, Angeles City had 394 active cases, with 18 new infections.
If and when a player tests positive for COVID-19, he will remain isolated in his room and the SBP will apply protocols and guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and FIBA, through Dr. Randy Molo and Dr. George Canlas.
“They will be tested again a day after to see whether it will be positive or negative,” Antonio said. “Should another positive result come out, we will be conferring with our medical staff, a biosecurity group that will address positive results.”
The SBP yesterday also named erstwhile Gilas program director Tab Baldwin as coach of the all-amateur Philippine five for the Clark qualifiers.
The American-New Zealander said he is readily accepting the task of steering the nationals in their bid to qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup set in August in Indonesia.
Baldwin will also call the shots for the team in the Olympic qualifying tournament from June 29 to July 4 in Belgrade, Serbia.
