By Jonas Terrado
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and members of the Board of Governors plan this week to discuss the fate of the Philippine Cup and other league-related activities currently on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial is eyeing a June restart of the games. (PBA Images)
League officials are set to talk through video conference options the league can take in light of the pandemic that forced the national government to put Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine.
Marcial is already eyeing the resumption of games in June, even as if there’s still no end in sight with regards to the global pandemic.
“Ang nakikita kong pinaka-maagang balik ng PBA ay June. Kasi even if the country is able to flatten the COVID-19 curve in April or May, I have to give our teams a month of practices before we resume play,” Marcial said, as quoted in an article posted by the PBA’s official website.
“Chairman Ricky Vargas (of TNT KaTropa) has called a video conference. The board will assess the situation and will make a thorough study kung ano ang magandang gawin,” he added.
Plenty of options are being pondered, including the likelihood that the current season will be reduced to a two-conference calendar instead of the traditional three conferences.
The PBA’s opened its 45th season last March 8 with a game between defending Philippine Cup champion San Miguel and Magnolia but the league suspended the games days later as the virus continued to spread around the country.
The same article also mentioned that the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup is in jeopardy of being cancelled since 11 of the 12 participating teams are school-based.
Only three playdates were held before the league decided to suspend the games.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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