By JONAS TERRADO
The PBA continues to wait for a response from the government regarding its request to bring back the games back to Manila in time for the Philippine Cup Finals which starts next week.
Metro Manila will be placed under a less restrictive alert level 3 which could pave the way for a possible return at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City where the first two weeks of the ongoing conference were held in July.
If the request is turned down, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said it will work on a request to hold the games in the capital for the planned second conference next month.
But the plan to have the PBA return to familiar surroundings could face a big obstacle as it appears that only bubble-type setups for sporting events are allowed in the metropolis.
The league fought hard to stage the conference under a closed-circuit format, insisting that holding another bubble like last year’s Philippine Cup in Clark and nearby Angeles City in Pampanga would cost a fortune.
Games of the season-opening conference have been held at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga since last month under a semi-bubble concept, meaning that teams can only go from their hotel to the playing venues or practice facilities within the province.
