For the past two weeks, teams from Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 have been holding practice over at the UP Epsilon Chi Center in Quezon City.
And it’s not just the Games and Amusement Board overseeing the sessions.
Commission on Higher Education chairman Popoy De Vera himself praised the protocols being implemented by the country’s first-ever professional 3×3 basketball league.
For De Vera, it is the perfect blueprint for collegiate teams to follow as they also look to return to practice.
“Nakita ko ‘yung ginawa nila Eric Altamirano sa Chooks 3×3 sa UP. Ang ganda. Dapat ipakita sa mga amateurs,” said De Vera.
And so on Monday, league commissioner Altamirano himself will share all the details of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3’s workout protocols to the heads of the collegiate leagues and to the Joint Administrative Order group officials.
“We will gladly do so. We are hoping to share our best practices to the amateurs,” Altamirano’s reply to GAB chair Baham Mitra’s invite.
Just like all pro leagues, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3’s model begins with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for all players and staff.
If the result comes out negative, players are allowed to train in the UP facility — but under two conditions.
First is signing up for a contact-tracing application created by GET Philippines. Each player also has to go through an anti-gen test before entering the court.
After each team’s one-hour session, the entire venue and the materials used undergo disinfection.
Of course, the players are always told to practice proper health protocols at all times.
Almost perfecting this, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 has also submitted its proposal for returning to scrimmages to the JAO group.
“Hopefully after reviewing this, we can implement it as soon as possible,” said Mitra.
“Then the next step is the tournament itself. One step at a time muna tayo, but we are closing in on a return.”
Also presenting on Monday are the country’s professional 5-on-5 and football leagues.
