The Philippine Basketball Association is optimistic it can resume its stalled 45th season before the year ends.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial believes there is a very good chance the league will be able to restart operations and hold even just a conference for its 2020 calendar that has been greatly affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus.
At the same time, Marcial eased uncertainties and worries many players have following the momentary halt of the league’s 45th season.
“We made a policy on this. And they will be able to rejoin their teams,” said Marcial during yesterday’s webcast of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
Marcial said many players were affected when the season was called off before of the ongoing lockdowns imposed by the government to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
The cagers’ contracts will lapse in the coming months, with many team still not practicing because of the quarantine protocols that have been imposed by the government.
Marcial said teams have five days to sign their players once the go-signal has been given by the interagency task force to allow physical activities and for teams to have practices.
Those who have not signed will become free agents, added Marcial.
During the online discussion, Marcial expressed confidence that there is a very good chance that the league will be able to restart operations and hold even just a conference for its 2020 calendar.
He rated the chances of a PBA return at seven when asked on a scale of 1-10.
“Seven to eight sa akin na matutuloy. Ako sa akin, makakalaro pa talaga tayo kahit isang conference this year,” said Marcial, who was joined by deputy commissioner and head of PBA operations Eric Castro in the weekly session.
At the moment, the league is awaiting the response of the IATF on the PBA Board-approved protocols it submitted.
The league hopes that the protocols it forwarded will pave the way for teams to at least start practicing even by small groups as soon as possible.
Castro said they have sent a formal letter to the IATF last week, with copies furnished to co-chairpersons Karlo Nograles and Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque.
“Kapag pinayagan ang PBA, hindi lang basketball baka lahat ng sports dahan-dahan na papayagan na ‘yan,” said the commissioner in the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Go-For-Gold, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and powered by Smart.
Castro added, “PBA will be a gauge for most of our sports. We can set as a model for other events. So I hope i-consider ng IATF yung request natin. So it will be a step-by-step. Again practice, and then later on kung mag-MGCQ (Moderate General Community Quarantine) tayo, we can proceed to our games.”
The restart of other contact leagues overseas, including the return of the NBA season by July 31, is likewise a good test case the country’s top sports entertainment can bank on for the possible resumption of its season.