The Philippine Basketball Association’s Board of Governors has unanimously agreed to continue the 2021-22 Governors’ Cup by the first week of February.
In a meeting on Monday, the board led by Chairman Ricky Vargas came up with the decision as coronavirus cases in Metro Manila have begun to slow down.
“As cases of COVID-19 infection in Metro Manila start to slow down, the PBA Board of Governors during a board meeting on Monday, unanimously agreed to resume action in the Governors’ Cup by the first week of February,” the league’s statement read.
Commissioner Willie Marcial is now waiting for the go-signal of the local government units (LGUs) with the aid of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for teams to carry on with their scrimmages.
The league chieftain said that his office and the agency, headed by Chairman Benhur Abalos, are waiting to hear from a total of six LGUs, namely Quezon City, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Mandaluyong, and San Juan.
Once a date has been set for the scrimmages, the league will give its member teams 10 days to prepare for the season resumption.
“Humingi ako ng tulong through Chairman Abalos ng MMDA kasi ‘pag nag-practices at nag-scrimmages, anim na cities tayo magpapaalam,” Marcial told Tiebreaker Times.
“‘Pag okay na sila, magsisimula tayo.”
The PBA has earlier gained the endorsement of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), led by Chairman Baham Mitra, for its season resumption.
The league voluntarily stopped the Governors’ Cup due to the spike of COVID-19 infection in the country that began before the New Year, which forced the national government to place the nation’s capital under Alert Level 3.