BY JONAS TERRADO
The ASEAN Basketball League became the latest league to suspend its season indefinitely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The league made the decision Friday after trying several options over the past weeks to continue the season despite the spread of infectious disease.
“With the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 as a global pandemic, the ABL, with the unanimous support of all its member teams, sees no other recourse but to halt competitions in its ongoing tenth season,” the ABL said in a statement.
Numerous games have been postponed since early-February, initially involving teams from Hong Kong, Macau and China, with the ABL entertaining the possibility of having matches in neutral sites.
But the sudden increase in cases around the region has forced ABL to play just one game since Feb. 23.
Last Sunday, the league postponed four more games after Singapore Slingers import Jameel McKay was placed under quarantine after it was learned that he was part of a flight where a Frenchman tested positive for COVID-19.
San Miguel Alab Pilipinas along with Hong Kong Eastern, Macau Black Bears and Taiwan’s Formosa Dreamers later called on the league to suspend the season as a preventive measure against the virus.
But the ABL said it tried to give teams time to sort out aspects that would affect them during the eventual decision to call off the games.
“This unprecedented situation demanded due diligence from the ABL’s part to ensure that the voice of all stakeholders will be heard and their needs met all teams needed ample time to sort out their contracts as they also have commitments to advertisers, venues, and broadcast partners that had to be ironed out before we reached a unified decision,” the ABL said.
“The ABL explored all options in an effort to continue to deliver top-quality basketball and entertainment to our loyal fans. The league looked at booking neutral venues where multiple teams could play some of their postponed games.
“However, the travel restrictions in the region, the quarantine requirements upon the teams’ return to their respective countries, and heeding the advice of multiple government institutions have led to the decision to suspend our season,” the league added.
