THE margin of opportunity for the PBA to salvage at the Philippine Cup has just entered a critical period.
The decision of the government to raise the quarantine level in Metro Manila back to MECQ for two weeks starting today means the pro league’s plans to start workouts for its players are once again delayed.
The decision was announced by President Duterte late Sunday and mostly spurred by the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, particularly Metro Manila.
During an MECQ, implemented in some part of the country last May 13, gyms and fitness centers are shut down, leaving athletes with little options but their homes to work out in.
When contacted yesterday, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial admitted he has no choice but to abide by the government decision even though his league’s projected resumption to the season is once again pushed back.
“Naiintindihan natin na para ito sa kaligtasan ng mga mas nakararami kaya kailangan nating sumunod,” said Marcial.
“Ang gusto lang naman natin maging parte ng solusyon at hindi ng problema.”
As a consequence, the PBA’s first move would be to defer the players’ required pre-practice swab testing set this Thursday and Friday at the Makati Medical Center.
“Ipapa-move natin,” said Marcial, who has ordered all players to undergo swab testing three days before said workouts.
The PBA, on hold since March 11, had earlier eyed the start of non-contact practices for its players late last month but got a delay when the joint administrative order allowing such reached its office only last July 27.
Then came word from the Makati Med that it could only accomodate the PBA players only later this week, meaning the start of their practices was pushed back to Aug. 10 or 11.
After the players have worked their way back to shape after months of being cooped up the PBA had entertained hopes of getting the go-signal to do full contact team scrimmages within this month and resume the Philippine Cup sometime next month or mid-October at the latest .
This most recent setback does little to dampen Marcial’s optimism. “Okay pa naman tayo. Kaya pa naman nating tapusin pag nag-umpisa ng kahit mid-October ito,” he said.
“Pero depende rin… depende dito sa Setyembre,” added Marcial. “Sana bumaba (mga kaso).”
