THE sterling way it managed to pull off last year’s Philippine Cup bubble and the fans’
growing clamor would be among the PBA’s main bargaining chips when the pro league tries to get the necessary approval from the government to proceed with its 46th season.
Commissioner Willie Marcial yesterday said these will be the PBA delegation’s talking points when it meets with a panel led by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in Malacanang today
“Ipapakita namin, ii-explain namin ang mga reasons kung bakit dapat tayong payagan na,” Marcial said during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
“After tomorrow, siguro after one or two days, may kaunting liwanag na kung saan direksyon natin,” added Marcial.
It has already been a long enough wait for the PBA.
The league had initially planned to stage a 10-month long season with two conferences taking place in a closed-circuit set-up starting last April 18 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
A big surge in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks derailed those plans as Metro Manila and nearby provinces, including Rizal, were placed under stricter community quarantine measures.
Now, the league’s hopes of playing this year practically hinges on vaccines it hopes to get by next month at the earliest and for the delayed season to finally kick off.
“Kapag dumating iyon (vaccines) siguro 50 percent ng problema ko mawawala na,” Marcial said.
The IATF, the country’s highest policy-making body in the battle against the pandemic, also needs to give the thumbs up and ease some of the restrictions on pro leagues, particularly the PBA.
Marcial said he would point out the way in which last year’s Philippine Cup was pulled off in Clark without a major glitch and the way fans have inundated the PBA with questions on when the season would commence.
“One, successful bubble na nagawa natin kaya nga pati FIBA lalaro dito kahit mataas ang COVID cases dito,” said Marcial, referring to the FIBA Asia Cup windows Clark is set to host on June 16-20.
“Two, walang bulilyaso na nangyari sa bubble so sana ma-reward tayo sa ginawa natin.
Ipapakita namin mga protocols… at saka ‘yung gusto ng mga fans. Honest, ang daming nangungulit sa amin na mga fans, para matuloy.
“Lahat ipapakita namin para sana makumbinsi sila na magsimula na tayo.”
Pending such approval, Marcial said the PBA is still sticking with its plans to hold a four-month Philippine Cup followed by a six-month Governors Cup, the latter featuring imports.
