PBA teams tasked to shoulder medical expenses of players contracting virus

PHILIPPINE Basketball Association (PBA) teams—not the league—will shoulder the medical expenses of a player, coach or team staff who will fall ill with Covid-19.

Testing of team members, according to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, are compulsory on a 10-day frequency with the ball clubs also shouldering the cost.

“The PBA Board of Governors agreed on Saturday to take the responsibility of the health and wellness of the players when practices resume,” said Marcial, adding the league has discussed its own guidelines with the coaches and team managers last Friday.

The league set these policies after the Inter Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases allowed training—under strict protocols and still no scrimmages—to resume in the PBA. This also applies to professional football.

“The teams will pay the expenses, just like when a player gets injured. No need for any [extra] insurance,” Marcial said.

Marcial said the rapid and swab tests will be conducted at the San Miguel Corp. facility in Mandaluyong City.

Marcial said the PBA is hoping the IATF will already allow team scrimmage next month. “Hopefully, they will agree,” he said.

A more relaxed health protocol, Marcial said, would signal the league’s return to competition.

The Philippine Cup opened the PBA’S 45th season last March, but competitions were halted because of the enhanced community quarantine. Only one game—san Miguel Beer beat Magnolia, 9478—was played on opening day last March 8.

Marcial stressed that the

PBA has its own “closed circuit” protocol to protect the members of the team. This means all team members must only travel to and from their homes and practive venues.

Every facility, Marcial said, will also be thoroughly disinfected.

“I think the PBA has put up an effective guideline to safeguard the players. It’s just a matter of attitude from the players to maintain the policy,” NLEX Head Coach Yeng Guiao said.