The PBA has already written a letter to the authorities asking if it can still carry on with its season as stricter lockdown measures will be implemented in the National Capital Region soon to stem the Delta COVID-19 variant.
Malacañang on Friday announced that Metro Manila will be placed under General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions from July 30 to August 5, and then Enhanced Community Quarantine from August 6-20.
League commissioner Willie Marcial said that his office has submitted its letter to the Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Francisco Duque III.
“Sumulat na tayo kaninang umaga,” he told Tiebreaker Times Friday, shortly after Magnolia’s Philippine Cup match versus Terrafirma.
Included in the letter, according to the league chief, is a request to play games outside NCR, particularly in Batangas. The province is under ordinary GCQ.
The province, moreover, had served as the home of the league’s 12 ball clubs prior to the season. Various venues there gamely hosted practices since the PBA was given the green light to conduct full contact practices last May.
The season is being played at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig in a closed-circuit system. And the games in Batangas, should the league be allowed to hold it there, will still be held in the same set-up, said the commissioner.
Marcial and Co. now have their fingers crossed for the best, as yet another challenge arises. But it isn’t lost on him that it won’t be easy.
“Mahigpit ‘to ngayon. Napaka-higpit,” he said. “Ilang linggo lang naman (ECQ), pero ‘di natin masasabi ngayon, lalo kung tumaas [ang mga kaso].
“So, hinihintay na lang natin ang sagot.”
