By CARLO ANOLIN
The same “stricter” protocols implemented during the successful 2020 PBA Philippine Cup will be followed when the third leg of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers kicks off in Clark, Pampanga in February next year.
Bases Conversion and Development Authority chief Vince Dizon vowed to provide the eight-country delegation with the same experience PBA players had when they arrive in Clark’s FIBA bubble.
Sec. Dizon said the implementation of stricter protocols while the PBA bubble is ongoing made the season a success despite two cases of COVID-19 scares, declaring the PBA bubble as “COVID-free.”
It would be recalled that a player from Blackwater and a referee initially tested positive for COVID-19 in the elimination round, but was later declared as “false positive” with negative results in the antigen tests.
“As a result, after those two instances, tuloy-tuloy nang walang naging problema until the end of the PBA bubble in early parts of December,” said Dizon in a virtual joint press conference Saturday attended by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, PBA Deputy Director Eric Castro, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio, and SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios.
“We will continue with those strict protocols. Kagaya nga nang sinabi ni Comm. Willie, first time natin to ginawa ngayong October kaya marami tayong natutunan.”
On top of those protocols, Dizon is mulling to open another quarantine facility in Clark dedicated solely for players and staff in the event of a positive COVID-19 case.
In the PBA, the referee and the Blackwater player were put under quarantine at the Athlete’s Village, a national quarantine facility in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
Castro echoed Dizon’s sentiments, adding that an “accurate” testing laboratory would be of huge boost when the Philippines host the FIBA qualifiers.
“‘Yung learning talagang cooperation and discipline ng players, ng staff, ng [Angeles University Foundation], ng Quest [Hotel]. Talagang dito natin nakita na if we’re together, we will succeed,” said Castro.
The third and last leg of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers is slated from Feb. 18 to 21 next year with Clark as one of the four cities chosen to stage the qualifying tournament.
Philippines is set to host Group A where Gilas Pilipinas leads with a 3-0 record, followed by South Korea (2-0), Indonesia (1-2) and Thailand (0-4). Teams in Group C, Australia, New Zealand, Guam and Hong Kong, will also play in Clark.
