Lady Skippers cold on practices
Actually, we’re still hanging if we would allow our players to train because the cases are going up
Marinerang Pilipina is doubtful if it would allow its players to attend practices once the government allows the Philippine Superliga (PSL) to resume its All-Filipino Conference.
Jed Montero, the team manager of the Lady Skippers, said their management is cold over the idea of restarting their training despite a looming go-signal from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the resumption of practices of team sports.
Montero said they are closely monitoring the situation before making any decision since the number of coronavirus cases in the country has been increasing every day.
As of Monday noon, the country has more than 56,000 cases with a death toll of more than 1,500.
“Actually, we’re still hanging if we would allow our players to train because the cases are going up,” said Montero in a telephone conversation.
“It’s pretty alarming and we are thinking of the health and safety of our players.”
Last week, the IATF formally allowed professional basketball and football teams to resume their trainings. Although the practices are limited to private workouts and conditioning, it is still considered as a small victory that would lead to the resumption of the games.
PSL officials are set to send an appeal to the joint committee composed of representatives from the Philippine Sports Commission, Department of Health and Games and Amusement Board to finally allow them to resume the workouts of their teams.
The league is tipped to present its health and safety protocols within this week and PSL president Ian Laurel is very positive that they can secure a clearance similar to what was given to basketball and football.
Still, the Lady Skippers are apprehensive.
“Not all players in our team have cars. Some of them need to take public transportation to make it to our training facility,” Montero, a former University of the Philippines stalwart, said.
“Also, some of our players will be coming from remote areas so it would be very hard for them to attend practices given this situation.”
Montero said they are banking on the protocols that the league would set to make trainings safe for everyone.
“At the end of the day, we should still review what protocols and guidelines are set by the league and the IATF.”