With its experience in organizing games in a bubble set-up, Cignal was ready when the UAAP thought of building one for the now-cancelled Season 83.
Cignal helped the PBA build its bubble in Angeles and Clark, Pampanga for the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup. It is going to do so again this February for the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
“We are committed to the UAAP to broadcast games. We were even prepared to do a bubble if they wanted to have the games in 2021,” said Cignal president Robert Galang.
“Ready na nga kami. Magpapagawa na nga kami ng bagong basketball court doon sa venue that we identified.”
According to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation, one of the venues identified was Inspire Sports Academy – the training facility in Calamba, Laguna that hosted the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup and Gilas Pilipinas’ training camp for the Qualifiers’ Manama leg.
However, the league’s Board of Trustees ultimately postponed Season 83. They cited the importance of safety for its community as the coronavirus pandemic is still raging on.
Still, Cignal is not backing down from its offer come Season 84.
“Outside the NBA, I think we’re the only professional league that was able to accomplish that,” continued Galang, regarding a two-month-long bubble.
With face-to-face classes most likely taking place in 2022 at the earliest, Cignal will do everything in its power to continue creating noise for the country’s most prestigious collegiate league up until that day comes.
“We’re also prepared to do a lot of the on-ground events, if possible, to bring up engagement and interest in the sports. We are open to using our multiple platforms, even play the archived games to really build up the interest for the league, not just for the alumni, even for the students, and really cast a wider net to reach audiences.”
