No fans, bands and cheering squads will be allowed to enter the venues when the University Athletic Association of the Philippines initially returns with the men’s basketball tournament.
That’s because restrictions under a full bubble setup will be imposed when the 84th season reels off on March 26.
Season 84 president Emmanuel “Nonong” Calanog said this after they sought guidance from the Philippine Basketball Association and clearance from the Commission on Higher Education on how to go about the planned start for the year.
But since the National Capital Region is now under Alert Level 1 restrictions, this will go on until the end of the first round.
“We ask patience from the fans. We are hoping that after the first round, we can start bringing in people into the arena,” said Calanog.
But Calanog explained that as far as the men’s basketball games are concerned, they will maintain their bubble setup until the end of the tournament.
For now, only coaches, athletes, officiating officials and the personnel from broadcast partner Cignal TV are the only ones allowed to enter the bubble until the end of the first round.
Calanog said the plans will hopefully keep the games played under safe conditions.
Member schools have also come up with bubble setups in their respective campuses.
This means that participating athletes, coaches and team officials will be transported to the game venues by designated vehicles and back to their respective school premises and to places where they train at the end of every game day.
These are among the safety and health protocols used by the PBA over the last two years, to be implemented all throughout Season 84.
Meanwhile, host De La Salle University has tapped Tonichi Pujante as the commissioner of the Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Pujante is also an organizer of the One La Salle Alumni Basketball League and former coach of La Salle Greenhills and University of Perpetual Help.