By Kristel Satumbaga
Here’s a piece of good news for student-athletes.
Officials of the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) Group have agreed to craft a recommendation for a set of protocols on the possible training of university and collegiate teams.
In a meeting with the Commission on Higher Education on Thursday, the group seeks the help of several professional leagues in providing references on their respective training protocols during quarantine.
“GAB will meet with PBA, Chooks-To-Go and Philippine Football League to request them to present their best practices so that it can be used as reference for amateurs to emulate,” said Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Baham Mitra, who is part of the tripartite group also composed of Philippine Sports Commission and Department of Health.
Under JAO guidelines, only professional leagues in basketball, 3×3, boxing and football are allowed for training during General Community Quarantine.
“I am confident that the pros would be willing to share what they are doing and we appreciate their efforts and their time in putting resources in complying with the JAO,” Mitra said.
This development is expected to be a big step towards allowing amateur athletes to train in light of the controversy surrounding the men’s basketball team of University of Santo Tomas, who has been under microscope for allegedly holding a training bubble in Sorsogon.
