PBA teams have the option to start their long-awaited practices early or do so at their own convenience.
Commissioner Willie Marcial yesterday said he told the teams they can start as early as next Tuesday in Batangas City or begin processing the needed requirements in other places of their choosing.
“Ang sabi ko, ‘Kung gusto niyo Batangas, okay na kayong maglaro muna doon,’” Marcial said after an online meeting with the 12 teams’ coaches and team managers last Monday afternoon.
“Ngayon, kapag umubra na sa Metro Manila, saka na lang sila bumalik kung gusto nila,” added Marcial.
During the meeting, Marcial laid down the health and safety protocols that must be followed during practices, which he hopes would be glitch-free to enable the PBA’s 46th season to be allowed to push through.
The PBA has targeted June 15 for its season kick off, giving the teams about a month to get into game-shape after being limited to individual home workouts since late March.
The go-signal for such scrimmages was given by the IATF last Friday, but only in areas under GCQ or MGCQ.
Metro Manila, where all the teams’ usual practice venues are located, is currently under MECQ. Whether the quarantine level would be eased to the more relaxed GCQ after May 14 remains to be seen.
Batangas City and Laoag City, which are under GCQ, have agreed to host the practices and it is really up to the teams, according to Marcial.
“Merong five to seven teams na gusto sa Batangas, mayroon namang iba na gusto raw ang Laoag,” Marcial said. “Pero karamihan sa kanila hinihintay kung ano mangyayari sa Metro Manila.
“Pero ‘yung mga gustong mauna mayroon ngang options at kung gusto nila makapag-start ng early, nandiyan na nga ‘yung Batangas at Ilocos (Norte).”
First, the required pre-practice swab testing must be done on all team personnel and even though Batangas has opened up its arms there are still some early word needed.
“Ang sabi ko, ‘Bigyan n’yo ko ng five days before’ para masabihan ang Batangas,” explained Marcial. “Kasi madami pang gagawin, disinfection, security, ‘yung mga staff nila ipapa-swab pa iyon.”
Teams eyeing other places to practice have to start processing the necessary requirements from the LGU and JAO to move forward in their plans.
“Mga ilang araw din aabutin ‘yung paglakad ng mga approval so kailangan umpisahan na nila iyon,” Marcial pointed out.
Marcial added that teams eyeing to just wait for what Metro Manila’s quarantine status would be after May 14 would be entering an iffy proposition.
“Kasi anuman ang desisyon sa NCR weekend malamang i-a-announce,” he explained. “So sa (May) 17 pa gagawa ng sulat ang teams para sa LGU na pinag-pa-pratkstisan nila. Bago ma-process iyon siguro mga three to four days. Kaya 22 or 23 pa sila p’wedeng mag-umpisa. Iyun naman ay kung papayagan sila.”
