PBA bubble violators to suffer heavy consequence

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial bared that stiff sanctions await the players who will leave the league’s planned bubble in Clark without permission.

In a Zoom presser Thursday after the board of governors’ meeting, he said that violators will not be paid a month’s salary by their teams.

“‘Pag lumabas ka ng bubble, one month hindi ka papaswelduhin ng team,” the league chief said.

They will also have to pay a 100,000-peso fine to the league, and will also have to serve a five-game suspension in the following season.

“Fine ka sa PBA ng P 100,000. Tapos sa susunod na season, suspended ka ng five games,” Marcial said.

The Commissioner’s Office has been given by the board the authority to sanction those who will violate the protocols inside the bubble.

The league has chosen the former US military base in Pampanga to be the venue for its planned season restart on Oct. 9.

Players, coaches, staff, league officials, and selected media members will be housed at Quest Hotel, which is 10 minutes away from the Angeles University Foundation Gym, where games are to be held.

Pending the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force, the PBA plans to start its scrimmages in the bubble by Sept. 27.

“We expect strict compliance within the bubble,” said PBA Vice Chairman and Terra Firma governor Bobby Rosales.

“Strict, in a sense that once you’re in the bubble, you are not allowed to get out of the bubble. Otherwise, you cannot get back to the bubble.”