PBA one step away from holding scrimmages
THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is just a supplemental Joint Administrative Order (JAO) away from clearing its teams to hold scrimmages in National Capital Region (NCR) plus, according to the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night placed NCR plus under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions from May 15 to 31.
“We’re waiting for the approval of the supplemental JAO, which is now in the office of [Health] Secretary [Francisco] Duque. We, with PSC [Philippine Sports Commission] chairman [William] Butch Ramirez, have already signed it and hopefully Secretary Duque may sign it soon, too,” said GAB chairman Baham Mitra in a press conference on Friday.
Last week, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) gave the PBA the go-signal to hold five-on-five scrimmages in areas under GCQ and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
However, the GCQ to be imposed in NCR plus (Metro Manila and the provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna) starting May 15 is one with heightened restrictions and still prohibits gyms from opening. If the PBA wants to hold scrimmages in NCR plus, it needs a supplemental JAO.
“The supplemental JAO allows the team to hold scrimmages in areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions provided they will hold it in a bubble setup and subject to protocols approved by our medical team,” explained GAB information officer Lorraine Rodriguez.
“If they will hold their training in Metro Manila, which is under heightened GCQ, if we follow the old JAO, they are only allowed to do physical conditioning. Scrimmages are not allowed.”
The PBA, however, has an option to hold team practices in areas under GCQ and MGCQ such as Batangas City, which doesn’t require a supplemental JAO.
“Batangas is under GCQ without modifiers. Through the IATF-EID approval in its Resolution 114, they are allowed to conduct training and scrimmages provided they will conduct it under bubble modality. PBA teams are allowed,” said Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, GAB has already approved the closed-circuit bubble of the Manila Chooks TM at the Lucena Convention Center in Lucena City, Quezon as the team prepares for a FIBA 3X3 tournament in Croatia on May 26.
“We found a way so they can train already, we’re grateful that they have a chance to train,” said Mitra.
Mitra further said GAB will allow other Premier Volleyball League teams to practice as long as they hold their training outside NCR plus. Thus far, only PLDT, Creamline and Choco Mucho are the only teams holding bubble training sessions.
“We will allow them as long as their training bubble is outside Metro Manila,” said Mitra.
GAB, meanwhile, has given the Mindanao leg of the Pilipinas Vismin Super Cup the clearance to begin on May 30.
The teams competing in the Mindanao leg are Roxas Vanguards, The Brew Authoritea, Pagadian Explorer, Ozamiz Cotta, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Del Sur, Iligan City, Archangels and Jumbo Plastic-Basilan Peace Rider.