The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings are itching to do their workouts.
Gin Kings' coach Tim Cone said this as ball clubs in the Philippine Basketball Association wait for Metro Manila to return to a more relaxed quarantine status.
“There's no doubt that they're seriously waiting to get back to work. I don't see anybody who does not want to get back to their jobs,” said Cone during the weekly podcast of “The Chasedown.”
Many teams were supposed to go into workouts in the third week of August.
But all this changed when Metro Manila was placed back into a 14-day Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine last week.
“The idea of waking up and not having a purpose as the days go by is difficult. This is not as if we're wired for this,” added Cone.
Many clubs can go for the option of going into a training camp ahead in a low risk area outside of the Metro Manila, but not all ball clubs are up to it.
Cone said he is meeting with his players daily on Zoom to check on their status.
“Our players really want to get back and start working. Basketball is their passion,” said Cone.
The Interagency Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious had set quarantine guidelines, protocols and restrictions that were supposed to be observed this month, subject to the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte.
But because of the MECQ, all ballclubs are now waiting for developments on the status of their return to workouts and practice after Aug. 18.
The Gin King finished the season last year by taking the Governors' Cup crown by beating TNT KaTropa, 4-2, in their best-of-seven title showdown.
They capped the championship series with a 102-90 win over the KaTropa.