PBA commissioner Willie Marcial is glad that the league’s participating teams are now allowed to return to practice following the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
On Friday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced that the IATF has allowed practice and conditioning for basketball and football teams, as the PBA and the Philippine Football Federation has requested.
Roque added that the guidelines for training under both general community quarantine and modified GCQ were drafted by Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusement Board, and the Department of Health.
“Natutuwa kami na pinayagan tayo ng Task Force at ng government natin,” Marcial told Tiebreaker Times over the phone.
This also raises hopes for the PBA’s resumption of Season 45 following its suspension last March 11 — days after the season opener — as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease was starting to spread in the country.
And it’s surely good news, especially for the players who unanimously told Marcial that they are willing to return to action in a briefing, which the Commissioner hosted last June 23.
With this development, Marcial said that he will meet with the coaches and team managers on or before July 10. He will then convene with the board of governors for their next steps moving forward.
And after that board meeting — the exact date of which has yet to be determined — then team practices will be held “within five to seven days“, the amiable executive shared.
In the PBA’s guidelines, practices will be held under strict health protocols. No scrimmages will be played and it will be on a per-batch basis, consisting of four players, one health officer, and one trainer.
