RACELA MUM ON ELITE TRAINING
Blackwater coach Nash Racela remains mum on their reported training session that happened before getting the green light from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Racela, who is entering his first season as Elite head coach, neither denied or confirmed what their team owner, Dioceldo Sy, admitted on national television that they had a workout last Saturday at the height of the suspension of the PBA’s 45th season.
“If your question is about the supposed workout, I’ll take a pass,” Racela said when
Daily Tribune sought his side.
In an interview with ESPN5’s Sports Page last Monday, Sy said he personally saw how his team conducted its practice under strict health and safety protocols.
He said eight players were divided into clusters of four and each session lasted for an hour while other players were having shooting drills.
Sy added that the Elite did not breach any law or guideline and they are all free from coronavirus after passing the rapid testing on 20 June.
His admission caught the attention of the PBA, prompting commissioner Willie Marcial to seek an explanation on what really transpired.
Even the Games and Amusement Board wasn’t happy as it is reportedly mulling the possibility of penalizing the Elite.
Marcial said he already penned a letter addressed to team governor Silliman Sy, asking him to put into writing his side of the story. From there, the league would determine what sanction it would mete.
“We’ll write Blackwater to get its side,” Marcial said, adding that no official training should be held without the instruction from the PBA despite the green light from the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease last 3 July.
He said they won’t issue the go-signal to train until all 10 teams undergo swab testing. “Teams are not yet cleared to practice.” Marcial said a hefty fine ranging from P20,000 to P100,000 for repeat offenses.
Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra and Adrian Wong of Rain or Shine were the first to be penalized after joining other amateur players in a scrimmage last week.
They were fined P20,000 each and were ordered to undergo swab testing and 14-day quarantine on top of community service.