PBA TARGETS JULY 22 PRACTICE RESUMPTION
PHILIPPINE Basketball Association Commissioner Willie Marcial targets the resumption of practices on July 22 after getting the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Friday.
Marcial will meet all team managers and coaches on July 10 to discuss the implementation of practice guidelines and protocols.
He will then convene all governors in a special board meeting scheduled next week for final approval. “Tingnannatin.Targetpa lang‘yun ( July 22 resumption of practices) after meeting ng mga governors pa ( Let’s see. That’s only the target [ July 22 resumption of practices] after the meeting of the governors),” Marcial told TheManilaTimes on Saturday.
The IATF-EID has already allowed all PBA players to resume their conditioning and training only, without playing and scrimmages, based on the request submitted by the league last June 4.
Meralco coach Norman Black is grateful upon learning of the IATF-EID’s approval.
“I am happy; it’s been too long. I am happy to get back to work. I am not sure about the procedures and guidelines, so we’ll wait for the commissioner’s office meeting on Friday ( July 10) and then I’m sure, by hopefully Monday, everybody could have started practicing,” he said.
“We have everything there — [ Meralco gym], the basketball court, the weight room. We have the cardio area, so there’s no need for us to really go anywhere else other than Meralco,” added Black, noting all players and staff tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 ( Covid- 19) last June 1.
All players are scheduled to be tested again.
Practices and conditioning, according to the guidelines sent by the PBA to the IATF-EID, will have just a limited number of individuals under a “bubble” concept in the venue to train. Only four players, one trainer and one safety officer will be allowed.
A hospital-standard disinfection with temperature screening and proper sanitation will be implemented while players will be tested thrice a month.
Meanwhile, the Games and Amusement Board is pushing for the inclusion of closed- door professional boxing events with zero spectators after the IATFEID has allowed basketball and football to practice.