ALL PBA teams are grateful and excited now that their wish has been granted and the long-delayed season could finally start.
But they also have another request — to be granted tune-up games before the season-opening Philippine Cup starts this Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
“At least one,” said Blackwater coach Nash Racela. “Para ma-gauge kung ano pa kailangang ayusin. Kasi nga, even though we’ve spent months practicing, kami-kami lang iyon. You’ll never really know kung okay ‘yung mga plano n’yo unless you play a competitive game against another team.”
That basically echoed the sentiments of other coaches, like Ginebra’s Tim Cone, Magnolia’s Chito Victolero and Alaska’s Jeff Cariaso, whose teams, like the rest have been doing provincial scrimmages since mid-May.
“I think our players are tired of practicing and playing against themselves,” said Cone in a text message. “They’re ready to play some games!”
“Sana payagan ‘yung tune-up para malaman mo kung nasaan na team mo,” said Victolero, whose plan to shift practices over to Pampanga was cancelled following the announcement that the season has been given the go-signal to start by the IATF last Friday.
“Kung sa practices lang, okay naman itinatakbo ng team ko, pero siyempre iba ‘yung tune-up,” added Victolero.
“Imagine, doing the same drills, going 5-on-5 with your teammates over and over for weeks on end?” posed Cariaso. “You can only gauge how far your team has progressed kung may kalaban kang iba.”
Commissioner Willie Marcial said he is amenable to letting teams play tune-up games, but that depends on whether the DOH, GAB and PSC would allow that through a Joint Administrative Order expected to be issued within the week.
“Sinabihan ko na rin ‘yung mga governors… ‘yun nga, nag-re-request sila kung puwede sila mag-tune-up games,” said Marcial. “So sabi ko, hintayin ko lang ‘yung JAO na baka puwede na tayo mag-tuneup games.”
The pre-season games do not necessarily have to be held in Metro Manila but could be done in Batangas, which is under a more relaxed quarantine status than the Big City that prompted majority of the 12 teams to conduct their practices there.
“Kahit hindi sa NCR,” said Marcial. “Kunwari may mga teams naglalaro sa Batangas, sila-sila muna–kung papayagan tayo.”
Among those that have already forwarded a request for a tune-up game are SMB and defending champion Ginebra, both using the Aquamarine gym in Lipa along with NorthPort.
Magnolia, Terrafirma, TNT and Meralco have used the Batangas State U facilities, while Blackwater has shifted to the Summit Points Golf facilities in the same city, Alaska remains in San Jose and Phoenix has gone to Malarayat Golf and Country Club.
NLEX remains in Pampanga while Rain or Shine has opted for weights training in Mandaluyong since last week.
The season schedule has yet to be released, but Marcial has said a tripleheader has been lined up for the first month of the season, starting with Friday’s opening.
