PBA ROAD GAMES, IMINUNGKAHI
Dahil napurnada na naman ang muling pag-eensayo ng PBA teams dahil sa modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), nagbigay ng suhestyon si NLEX coach Yeng Guiao na gawin na lang ang mga laro out-of-town.
Ayon kay Guiao, maari naman umanong matuloy ang 45th season ng PBA kung gagawin ang mga laro sa isang “bubble set-up” at malayo sa mga lugar kung saan mataas ang kaso ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Dagdag niya, kailangan na umano ng PBA na maghanap ng mga lugar kung saan maaring ganapin ang conference ngayong season.
“It’s still too early to say, but for now, the way I see it, we could do it by October or late September. Maybe the condition in Metro Manila would be better by that time,” sabi ni Guiao.
“But for now, I think the PBA should also consider doing it outside Metro Manila, where infection rate is not high, or any areas where it is really safe,” dagdag niya.
Ang konsepto ng bubble set-up ay ginagamit na ngayon ng National Basketball Association (NBA) subalit kung gagayahin ito ng PBA, kailangan ng mas malaking halaga at iba pang logistical requirements.
Sinabi naman ni PBA commissioner Willie Marcial na wala pang kakayanan sa ngayon ang PBA na maglabas ng malaking halaga lalo na ngayong nawawalan na umano sila ng halos P30 milyon sa isang buwan dahil sa lockdowns.
“I think it’s really impossible to hold games elsewhere because that would mean more expenses on the part of the PBA and the teams,” sabi ni Marcial, na sinabi rin na ang kanilang opsyon sa ngayon ay maglaro sa Smart Araneta o sa Mall of Asia Arena na isasara na lamang sa mga tao.
“As much as possible, we would like to hold it here in Manila,” saad ni Marcial.
Si Guiao naman, sinabing ang tanging paraan lamang para matuloy ang laro sa Metro Manila ay kung magiging maayos na ang sitwasyon.
“Wherever the PBA would hold its games, one thing is sure: There should be no spectators,” sabi ni Guiao. “I’m still very hopeful because of what we see in the NBA in which they were able to preserve the bubble. It looks like they are the only successful league to do it, at least in the United States.”
“So that gives a lot of hope. As I was telling them; we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We juts have to look at the leagues that are doing it right and those making mistakes. We have to make sure that we would be able to correct those mistakes,” dagdag niya.