BY TITO S. TALAO
The COVID-19 scare is turning the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) upside down.
For 44 years the PBA has persevered to hold three-conference games in packed venues in front of revenue-generating record crowds. But with the coronavirus crisis reaching fevered heights in many parts of the world, league governors, along with Commissioner Willie Marcial, met last night past presstime at Bonifacio Global City to decide how to proceed with the 45th season in near-empty arenas and vacant seats.
From soaring gate receipts to government-mandated zero attendance, if it comes to that.
“No choice tayo,” says Marcial. “We need to address this matter the soonest.”
That would be no later than 8 Tuesday night, hours before the second playdate of the Philippine Cup Wednesday which would pit TNT KaTropa against Phoenix Super LPG and NLEX against NorthPort at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The league pushed through with the opener last Sunday at the Big Dome, with defending Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer defeating Magnolia 94-78.
The PBA has also held its D-League Aspirants’ Cup tournament since March 2 with three playdates already completed. The board’s decision could also affect the staging of these games.
“Pag-uusapan namin kung itutuloy yung naka-schedule na laro,” says Marcial on the phone. “Ilalahad ko sa kanila lahat ng scenario. Puwedeng ma-suspend ang games ng one week, two weeks o one month. Puwede ring ilaro ng closed-door.”
Marcial told the Bulletin earlier that the decision will depend on how it will impact the league’s “television coverage, sponsorship deal and calendar for the 45th season” which came off the wraps Sunday.
The option to move closed-door games from expensive arenas to less costly smaller venues – if a decision to keep fans away is made – will also be discussed, but only if the government – through the Department of Health perhaps, says Marcial, mandates that PBA games could be held only if spectators are not present to prevent further spread of the virus.
The first doubleheader of the season-opening conference was supposed to put center Poy Erram on the spotlight.
Erram is slated to make his debut with TNT KaTropa since being acquired from NLEX as part of a three-team deal which also involved Blackwater.
His arrival has boosted TNT’s chances of competing for the prestigious Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy, given his ability to protect the shaded lane.
NLEX continues to deal with life after Erram and the match with NorthPort will see if coach Yeng Guiao’s squad has the capability to compete sans the veteran center.
“Baka ma-penalize kasi kami kung naka-schedule sa malaking venue tapos nilaro namin sa mas maliit na lugar kung sakaling closed-door na,” says Marcial. “Pero siempre iba na yon pag gobyerno nagsabi na di puwedeng me mga tao.”
Even as the PBA mulls its next move with the rise in numbers of those locally infected, Marcial says the league is careful not to cause unnecessary apprehension with other leagues.
“Siempre tinitignan din nila ang PBA, hinihintay nila kung ano gagawin natin. Ayaw naman natin na mag-panic sila pag bigla tayong mag-cancel o suspend ng mga laro.” (With a report from Jonas Terrado)