PBA & NBA should learn from each other

THERE is no need to rush things up. That’s why I support the stance being taken by the PBA (Philippinie Basketball Association), which is to study all options and suggestions by members of the PBA family— meticulously, strictly and with a dedication resembling that of Noah staying in his ark though the heavens fall.

The pandemic is also a time to prod us to be calculating, creative and considerate.

What do we gain when we do deathdefying moves, as in restarting the PBA amid the Covid-19 scourge without health precautions not properly in place?

To act machismo-like would be outright suicide since we are supposed to act on the safe side at all times, given that the coronavirus afflicting mankind since March has remained insanely invincible since its detection on December 17, 2019, in Wuhan, China.

As we love to say, better safe than sorry. Thus, this is the time to learn from each other, to exchange notes and to listen to experts— OK, include the government— as we march on, with resolute resolve, to defeat this plague that has infected 51,754 Filipinos and claimed 1,314 lives as of Thursday (July 9) from across the archipelago.

It is heartening to note that our PBA leaders, in response to the government’s lifting of essential restrictions on league operations, had planned meetings on Friday (July 10) and Saturday— that’s today, July 11— to discuss protocols mainly on team practices.

This is the first and correct step in the PBA’s preparation, hopefully, to save the All-Filipino conference as the league grapples, courageously, to avoid getting blanked on its 45th season.

I’m sure our PBA officials, led by Commissioner Willie Marcial, are closely monitoring proceedings in the NBA’s preparations for its restart on July 30.

Already, some of the league’s 22 teams have started arriving on July 7 at Disney World, Orlando, Florida where, eventually, all NBA players, coaches and team staffers are to be housed— a huge sacrifice as they’d be away from their families for three months or so once the games are back.

The things we do for the love of the game.