By JONAS TERRADO
The status of the PBA bubble in Clark, Pampanga, which was recently rocked by initial positive results, was put in doubt yesterday after the league decided to postpone all of Philippine Cup games until further notice.
In a statement, the PBA said it heeded the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force and Department of Health to put the games on hold while crafting for new protocols that will be implemented inside the bubble at Quest Hotel and Angeles University Foundation.
“In compliance with the recommendation of the IATF-EID Technical Working Group and the DOH Advisory Group of Experts and to ensure the integrity and safety of the PBA Bubble the league is postponing the games starting TODAY, October 30 until the new protocols proposed by the IATF and DOH are out in place,” the PBA said.
“The PBA would like to thank the IATF, DOH and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) for their continuous support and guidance,” the league added.
Team practices at the AUF Sports and Cultural Center were likewise suspended, though the PBA said that activities inside Quest can continue.
Among the activities are swimming, gym, billiards, jogging and walking as long as it is within the confines of the bubble.
It seemed that the situation in the bubble isn’t as alarming, with several players posting photos of their activities. But the decision could result in several changes to whatever normalcy everyone inside the bubble has been accustomed to.
It also raises more questions if the bubble has burst after one referee and one Blackwater player tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
Both later yielded negative results on succeeding antigen and RT-PCR tests but were placed under quarantine at the Athlete’s Village in Capas, Tarlac.
It also led to the postponement of three games this week, namely two Blackwater matches against Rain or Shine (Oct. 25) and Magnolia (Oct. 28) and TNT’s game opposite NorthPort (Oct. 26).
Yesterday’s games would have featured Magnolia and NorthPort in the first game at 4 p.m. and a marquee encounter pitting San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra in the nightcap at 6:45 p.m.
Eleven consecutive playdates would have followed to wrap up the elimination round before eight teams advance to the playoffs which would last until the middle part of December at the latest.
