Ilocos Norte eyed as new bubble site

Salary cuts for players, coaches, staff as league bites the bullet

PBA received an offer from the provincial government of Ilocos Norte to host the bubble in the event it becomes a last resort for the 46th season to start this year.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said he had informal discussions with Ilocos Norte governor Matthew Manotoc regarding the bubble offer but added that the league will still monitor the country’s COVID-19 situation before it entertains such possibility.

Ilocos Norte came into the picture with Pampanga likely to be out of the equation due to its upcoming hosting of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in midJune, if the PBA follows Marcial’s hope for a target start late next month or in early-June.

A bubble remains far from the league’s priority since it is still considering the financial and mental aspect of staging the setup similar to last year’s PBA Philippine Cup in Pampanga.

Vice chairman Bobby Rosales said that vaccination will be the first order of business for the league in order for the PBA to start the season without worrying about serious health and safety issues.

Marcial is set to meet with officials from the Inter-Agency Task Force next week to discuss ways to expedite the purchase of vaccines for the whole PBA family.

The PBA already got a commitment with the Philippine Red Cross, as well as Manny V. Pangilinan, who owns TNT, Meralco and NLEX.

But without the vaccine, the league will have to play the waiting game or opt for a bubble setup in order to fulfill its goal of a two-conference season.

PBA teams are still prohibited from holding practices and scrimmages due to the ongoing Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine regulations in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna and Bulacan.

With that, the PBA board agreed to a 20-percent salary cut of players, coaches and other team personnel, with the exception of those who work as utilities.

Marcial said full salaries will be returned once scrimmages, which are only permitted in areas under Modified General Community Quarantine, resume.

PBA COMMISSIONER Willie Marcial, league chairman Ricky Vargas and members of the Board of Governors gather for a face-to-face meeting in this file photo, a full house session that had since been made difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic. (PBA Images)