THE PBA’s coming season resumption is the first of its kind in league history and officials have taken one added step to make it even more extra special.
Upon arrival at the bubble site at the Clark Freeport and Economic Zone, the teams could immediately start doing 5-on-5 scrimmages at the practice facilities of the Angeles University Foundation gym.
From there, another welcome improvement awaits.
According to Commissioner Willie Marcial, Iglesia ni Cristo officials were kind enough to lend the court flooring and rims from the Philippine Arena to augment the practice facilities at the AUF, site of the games.
“Semento kasi iyung court sa practice gym kaya nilagyan namin ng kahoy,” Marcial said yesterday.
“Inilalatag na natin iyung maple flooring na nahiram natin sa Philippine Arena, pati ‘yung rims, kaya siguradong madadagdagan ng gana ang mga players sa practices pa lang.”
That is certainly something the teams can look forward to as they try to finish out what now looms as the PBA’s lone tournament for what should have been its milestone 45th season.
The 12 member teams travel in batches for Pampanga today and tomorrow for their billeting at the Quest Hotel. The rest of the PBA contingent follows suit before the official games start Oct. 11.
All teams will conduct practices at the second floor of the AUF gym building, with the daily doubleheader games to be played on the fourth floor.
Marcial, set to travel to the bubble site only on Oct. 9, is keeping his fingers crossed the entire process necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic would go smoothly.
Marcial expressed optimism he and his staff could easily adjust on the fly.
