THERE’S just a whale of difference between the amateurs and pros.
The PBA is expected to come up with a decision next month on the fate of the drastically disrupted D-League Aspirants’ Cup, according to Commissioner Willie Marcial.
While the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases has given the green light for the PBA and Philippines Football League teams to resume training last July 3, the nod was also only for pro basketball and football.
Ten of the 11 teams in the Aspirants’ Cup are also school-based squads.
“Ang D-League, as of now baka sasabay sa PBA (resumption) pero katulad noon, bawal pa ang amateurs ‘di ba sa ginagawa ng Task Force,” Marcial said yesterday in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum webcast.
“By August dedesisyunan din namin definitely (fate of the D-League),” he added.
The season-opening tourney was suspended indefinitely since March 11 with only eight games played at the start of the government-imposed quarantine restrictions to stem the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.
The league said earlier that the fate of the Aspirants’ Cup hinges largely on when the UAAP and the NCAA will hold their seasons.
The NCAA and the UAAP have both called off their 95th and 82nd seasons last March and April, respectively.
Both collegiate leagues are eyeing to launch their respective new seasons early next year due to the lingering health risks and uncertainties posed by the coronavirus crisis.
Most parts of the country, including Metro Manila, have been placed under the less strict general community quarantine last June 1 but recreational basketball games remain prohibited.
School-based squads that are competing in the Aspirants’ Cup include reigning NCAA champion Wangs-Letran, Seaoil-Far Eastern University, Apex Fuel-San Sebastian College, ADG Dong-Mapua University, Diliman College, FamilyMart-Enderun, AMA Senior High, and Karate Kid-Centro Escolar University, with Marinerong Pilipino as the lone club team.
