PBA teams would not let all their work the past few weeks go to waste.
Commissioner Willie Marcial yesterday said most of the teams are set to go to Pampanga to continue training there while awaiting word on when the new season would commence.
“Ayaw na muna nila sa Batangas dahil nga sa threat ng Taal (volcano),” Marcial said.
“Pati ‘yung nag-Ilocos (Norte) mag-ba-Batangas din sana muna, kaya lang nga ayaw isapalaran ‘yung Taal,” added Marcial. “So ang tinitingnan ng mga teams, either small group workouts dito sa (Metro) Manila o mag-Pampanga para tuloy ang 5-on-5 practices nila.”
One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Taal has been spewing smoke and steam since last Friday, with officials warning of a possible major eruption.
Hardest hit were Blackwater and Rain or Shine, which have set up camp at the Splendido Golf and Country Club in Laurel town, which is well within the seven-kilometer danger zone from the volcano.
“Buti kamo naka-break sila rito sa Manila nu’ng mag-alburoto ang Taal,” said Marcial.
Nine of the 12 PBA teams have been forced to conduct their practices in provinces with more relaxed quarantine levels since mid-May after being prohibited from doing so by the restrictions enforced in the Big City and nearby provinces.
Meralco and TNT opted for separate bubbles in Ilocos Norte while sister team NLEX initially went to Zambales before shifting to Pampanga where it currently has a closed-circuit camp in Mexico.
Marcial said the capital city of Batangas and Lipa City, where the other teams have conducted their full-contact scrimmages, is in no real danger in case Taal erupts. But he said those teams deemed it better to be safe than sorry.
“Hindi mo rin masisi dahil nga unpredictable ‘yung mga puwedeng mangyari kapag sumabog nga ‘yung bulkan,” noted Marcial. “Baka nga naman maipit sila kung sakaling babalik na sila kung magbubukas tayo kaya tumitingin na sila sa Pampanga para iwas-aberya. Tutal marami naming venues na puwede du’n, gaya ng AUF (Angeles University Foundation).”
The PBA is looking to kick off its 46th season in the third week of July. That is if Marcial gains the necessary approval from the IATF in a meeting either tomorrow or Thursday.
