By Waylon Galvez
The PBA Board of Governors will have to make an honest-to-good assessment before it can come up with healthy and safety measures once the government downgrades the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
Board vice chairman Bobby Rosales of Columbian DYIP said Tuesday that they have to discuss things by month’s end when the government issues guidelines under the GCQ as the country continues to fight the COVID-19
“There will be rules because it’s still a lockdown, but it’s no longer ECQ. So it’s important to see what are these (rules) and then make an evaluation under GCQ,” said Rosales in a phone interview.
“The board will talk about that, but whatever it is, whatever the GCQ guidelines is, the PBA will definitely follow. It’s important that we all stay safe, that’s the primary concern (of the board),” he added.
The board, led by chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT KaTropa, had an online meeting last Saturday after the government extended the lockdown to May 15.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said the governors opted to wait until August before making a definite decision on whether to push through with a shortened Season 45 or scrap it altogether.
“Maghihintay kami until August to decide whether it’s still a go or a season cancellation,” said Marcial.
Rosales said that if the board meets again by the end of May, it is to weigh things again, but not to make a decision since the governors already tackled the issue and that an announcement will be made by August.
The board, according to Rosales, is also aware of the government’s call to its departments and agency not to conduct sports activities until the end of December 2020 since it falls under the category of mass gathering.
While the PBA is a private entity, it doesn’t mean it won’t follow the government’s call.
“Yes we’re a private group, but the situation is totally different. We’re in a health crisis – we’re in a pandemic. So anything that the government says, all of us we have to follow,” said Rosales.
The league formally opened its 45th Season with the Philippine Cup last March 8.
The Commissioner’s Office likewise suspended all practice sessions of the 10 ballclubs.