By JONAS TERRADO
The fate of the PBA’s plan to resume practices in July hinges on President Duterte’s decision on government’s community quarantine regulations in Metro Manila.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque earlier said Duterte plans to announce updated regulations “on or before June 29 (Monday), something PBA officials are expected to keenly wait.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial had earlier said that teams may be allowed to practice under a Modified General Community Quarantine, though insisting that nothing’s final until the Inter-Agency Task Force gives an official green light.
“Baka sa MGCQ pwede na pero unofficial pa yun. Balita ko lang,” Marcial said after his June 23 meeting with player representatives from all 12 teams.
Metro Manila was placed under General Community Quarantine last June 1 before it was extended two weeks later. But the possibility of reverting back to stricter quarantine regulations could be a big blow to the PBA’s plan for resumption.
The IATF didn’t hint such likelihood but the situation where Cebu City was placed back to Enhanced Community Quarantine should serve as a cautionary tale.
A July resumption of practices under strict health protocols could be a ray of hope the PBA needed in order to salvage the 45th season that was put on hold after just one game.
Under guidelines submitted to the IATF, PBA teams are only allowed to practices under batches of four players, one trainer and one health officer each.
A group of PBA players who attended the said meeting at the league office in Libis, Quezon City expressed commitment to take part in practice and games when called upon.
The PBA will decide in August if the season can resume or not. They can also opt to cancel it and take different steps.
