The Philippine Basketball Association has told all its teams to suspend their practices for the next two weeks or until March 27 in light of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COViD-19) outbreak.
Commissioner Willie Marcial told Tiebreaker Times on Friday that the league has sent a memo to all 12 teams to postpone practices, given the actions taken by the government.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday announced that Metro Manila will be placed under community quarantine.
“Yes, nag-memo na kami no practices for two weeks,” the amiable executive wrote in a short text message.
On Wednesday, the league had decided to suspend all its activities until further notice in response to the current health crisis. Still, it continued to allow teams to hold practices.
Reports said that teams Magnolia and NorthPort have practiced behind closed doors. Meanwhile, teams such as San Miguel, Alaska, Phoenix, and Blackwater have suspended training sessions already.
The suspension of practices appears logical since the PBA — which just opened its 45th season last Sunday — and other sporting events will not resume anytime soon.
As per the resolution — which President Duterte said will be an executive order — submitted by the inter-agency task force, mass gatherings are prohibited for a month.
