STRICT adherence to health protocols is the key for PBA teams to realize their collective dream of resuming and finishing out the season drastically disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak.
According to Commissioner Willie Marcial, all those involved when the players start returning to the practice gyms for conditioning workouts should do their part to ensure they remain on track for an October resumption of the Philippine Cup.
“Lahat, ‘yung mga players at immediate family nila, trainers, health officers,” Marcial told Malaya-Business Insight “Kailangan sumunod sa safety protocols at kailangan tulong-tulong lahat.”
Batches of four players, a trainer and a health officer have been allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force to return to the practice gyms and the PBA is now eyeing non-contact workouts to start either Monday or Wednesday next week.
Swab testing prior and during practices would be conducted on those involved in the practices and Marcial reminded the players to stay within the “closed circuit” method of a home-gym-home routine.
Each gym would also be sanitized according to hospital standards once each batch has finished.
Should the teams remain COVID-free, the PBA’s other immediate goal of 5-on-5 scrimmages may start. Marcial is set to write the IATF a letter to that effect by August.
The health officers assigned to each batch should not be delinquent in their roles and remain vigilant, Marcial said.
“Kaya mahalaga ang papel nu’ng health officer,” Marcial pointed out.”Bukod sa players and trainers, pati ‘yung health officer kailangan on their toes din. Siya kasi mag-re-remind sa players kung medyo magkakalapit na, kung nag-uusap na ng malapitan kasi hindi naman puwedeng naka-face mask mga players habang nag-wo-work out. Kung may lumabas sa bubble, iyung nagkaroon ng side trip kailangan ipaalam sa health officer para sa contact tracing.
“Kailangan ginagawa nila trabaho nila at magtatanong-tanong tayo at i-pe-penalize natin iyung mga pabaya.”
Marcial said he and some of his staff intend to make unannounced visits to gym once the practices start.
“Iikot kami. Parang surprise visit para lang makita natin kung nasusunod iyung protocols,” he said.
