STAY AT HOME MUNA -- AUSTRIA
Sa kabila ng mga paraan upang makabalik sa ensayo ang mga koponan ng PBA, ilang head coaches naman ang nagpahayag ng kanilang alinlangan na simulang muli ang kanilang training dahil na rin sa kumakalat na coronavirus disease (COVID-19) sa bansa.
Si Leo Austria ng San Miguel, Louie Alas ng Phoenix Super LPG at si Nash Racela ng Blackwater ay iisa sa pahayag na huwag munang isapalaran ang kalusugan ng mga manlalaro kahit na may planong pagensayuhin sila sa mga low-risk areas.
Ayon kay Austria, hindi pa rin mawawala ang banta ng COVID-19 kahit saan sila mag-ensayo at ang pinaka-importante ngayon ay ang kaligtasan nila at ng kanilang mga pamilya.
“If we conduct practices in other areas, I think the risk is still the same. We are still vulnerable to the virus,” sabi ni Austria. “This is a very tough time and being away from your family and loved ones, especially if you are the head of the family, makes it even tougher.”
Kung matatandaan, sinabi ni PBA commissioner Willie Marcial na binigyan na sila ng go-signal ng Games and Amusement Board na mag-ensayo sa mga low-risk areas kapag naisumite na nila ang kanilang training protocols at sumailalim sa swab testing.
Ang coach ng NLEX na si Yeng Guiao naman, sinabing pinaplano nila na magtayo ng training camp sa Pampanga.
“But we still have to subject players and team staff to swab testing as well as see the health and safety protocols they are planning to enforce,” saad ni Marcial. “We have to make sure that they are still following the guidelines even if they are training outside Metro Manila or other MECQ areas.”
Sa kabila nito, sinabi ni Austria na nagdadalawang-isip pa rin siya.
“We have been doing home workouts and individual trainings so I don’t see any problem if we do it again for another two weeks,” sabi ni Austria. “That’s our stand now. Unless there’s a directive from the management, we will stand by it.”