THERE is no truth to nasty rumors that the PBA stopped play because of widespread coronavirus infection within the league.
Commissioner Willie Marcial reiterated this yesterday, admitting there are indeed virus cases within the league but not so widespread to stop play.
“Kung may positive, hindi players,” Marcial told Malaya-Business Insight.“Puwedengangmaglarosampung teams.”
Marcial added the reason some of the 12 member teams were forced to undergo quarantine and re-testing is mainly due to the strict health protocols the league has put in place.
“Mga ballboys lang infected, peroalinsunodsa protocols natinkailangangi-isolate ang buong team. Part lang talaga ng precautionary measures natin,” explained Marcial. “Kapagna-clear nasila, ‘yungbuong team, sa re-testing saka pa lang silapapayagangmakalaroulit.”
In a statement issued last Tuesday morning, the PBA announced that play in the Philippine Cup has been temporarily suspended, which started last Wednesday.
The move was in anticipation and support of the government’s decision to place the NCR under a two-week lockdown starting today to head off the projected spread of the coronavirus’ highly-contagious Delta variant.
The suspension of games started four days before the implementation of the government directive and quickly sparked the rumors, which claimed numerous positive results emerged following the mandatory league-wide testing last Monday.
Marcial quickly debunked those reports, saying: “Bago ko inilabas ang statement (of suspending games), wala pang resulta. Tuesday ng umaga ko inilabasiyon.
Walapanglumalabasna resulta kahitsino. Linggopalangnaka-kasadonasautakkoiyan, naparangmakikisamanamankamisagobyernona hindi sagad-sagarinang liga hanggangumabotsalockdown.”
