PAMPANGA — The PBA has postponed its games beginning Friday, Oct. 30, as it continues to deal with the crippling effects of a COVID-19 scare inside its bubble mounted at the Clark Freeport Zone.
The league said that it is complying with the recommendation of the IATF-EID Technical Working Group and the DOH Advisory Group of Experts to ensure the integrity and safety of the bubble.
Games will not move forward “until the new protocols proposed by the IATF and DOH are out in place,” the league added.
Practices have also been suspended, although activities inside the hotel such as swimming, gym, billiards, jogging, and walking may proceed.
It was supposed to be an action-packed double-header Friday. Defending, five-time Philippine Cup champions San Miguel Beer would have taken on favorites Barangay Ginebra in a titanic clash at 6:45 p.m.
Raising the curtains at 4:00 p.m., on the other hand, should have been perennial contenders Magnolia Hotshots taking on Christian Standhardinger and the ever-gutsy NorthPort Batang Pier.
Prior to this, the league had cancelled three games. Two involved Blackwater Elite, who had a player initially test positive for the virus although he has been declared negative already following re-tests.
The Elite had their games versus Rain or Shine and Magnolia called off. They have only played five games so far this conference, having won twice.
Now, it remains to be seen how this would affect the league’s schedule moving forward. The Philippine Cup eliminations are scheduled to end on Nov. 11, and the projected season finish is by the second week of December.
At present, the TNT Tropang Giga sit atop the standings with a 5-1 card, followed by the Elasto Painters (4-2); the Gin Kings (4-2); and the Beermen (4-2). Terrafirma remains the only winless team in the meet at 0-5.
