Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) have decided to postpone the opening of the 2020 President’s Cup and the World Tour Manila Masters due to the on-going coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The two entities came to this conclusion last Thursday, March 11, in a teleconference that considered the continuous increase in COVID-19 cases and the declaration of Public Health Emergency.
“We have decided to move the opening of our first conference to a later date because of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic,” said league owner Ronald Mascariñas.
“As Filipinos, the health and safety of our players, officials, staff, and, most importantly, our fans are the most important thing to us.”
The six-leg President’s Cup would have opened its curtains on Sunday, March 29, 2020 at the events center of SM Fairview. The league will feature 12 teams, with nine coming from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
The Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3X3 World Tour Manila Masters, on the other hand, was slated to take place from May 2-3, 2020 at SM Megamall Fashion Hall. It has now been moved to August 15-16 at the same venue.
The Manila Masters is a max-level FIBA 3×3 event featuring the world’s best clubs.
Other postponed FIBA 3×3 events include the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, supposed to take place from March 18-22 in Bengaluru, India; and the Asia Cup, May 13-17 in China.
A date has not been set for the OQT, but according to FIBA, it has to take place before the Universality OQT (April 24-26 in Budapest, Hungary). The Asia Cup has been moved to September 9-13.
For now, Mascariñas is calling for every Filipino to keep safe.
“We at Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas are closely monitoring the situation on a daily basis. But for now, we are calling on everyone to make personal safety as the utmost priority.”
