TERRAFIRMA coach Johnedel Cardel is all for the temporary suspension of PBA games, both for professional and personal reasons.
Cardel said the PBA deciding to halt play starting yesterday would give his injured players more time to heal and, at the same time, give the pro league a chance to help in the government’s efforts to head off the spread of the coronavirus’ Delta variant.
The suspension could last up to Aug. 20. But the games would resume next week, according to Commissioner Willie Marcial, should the league be given permission by the government to transfer its venue from the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig to Lipa, Batangas.
“Kung mahihintay ang dalawang linggo, hintayin muna natin. Real cause for concern naman talaga kasi itong Delta at kailangan lahat magtulong-tulong para maiwasan ang spread ng virus at lalo na nitong variant,” said Cardel.
“Siyempre, as a coach, gusto ko ring tuloy-tuloy lang mga laro, pero health pa rin ang pinaka-importante sa lahat,” Cardel added.
There is also the matter of his players using the break to heal themselves.
Cardel was forced to utilize only nine players in Terrafirma’s last outing, a 77-83 loss to Rain or Shine last Sunday.
Not fielded in that match were Gelo Alolino (sprained ankle), Rashawn McCarthy (leg injury), Christian Balagasay (fractured ankle), Reden Celda (knee injury) and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser (fever).
The most prominent among the Dyip absentees in that game was Joshua Munzon, the Dyip’s top overall pick in last March’s rookie draft. He suffered a dislocated left pinky against Magnolia two days before in a grisly incident that Cardel would rather forget.
“Lumabas buto. Nakita ko pa, kulay puti ‘yung buto,” related Cardel. “Hihilahin ko sana, pero nu’ng nakita ko ‘yung buto nakalabas sa balat napaatras ako.”
Like Munzon, Balagasay should be out for another month but the rest should be fit enough to play should the league resume as early as next week.
“Call ng liga iyan, ng mga governors, ni Commissioner,” said Cardel. “Basta whatever sabihin ng liga, okay din sa amin.”
