PBA awaits IATF nod on return to practice
By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno
MANILA– The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is set to submit a list of guidelines regarding how teams can practice again during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
PBA board chairman Ricky Vargas said this following the board’s first physical meeting Wednesday at its office in Quezon City. He said that Commissioner Willie Marcial may submit the protocols to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) as early as Thursday.
“There are some people who offered to help us to follow this up with the IATF,” Vargas added.
The proposed guidelines are said to be stricter than the rules provided by FIBA regarding the resumption of training.
Marcial said that only six people, four players, one trainer, and another staff member, will be allowed to practice at a certain time.
Once their time is up, they must quickly leave the practice facility to make way for the next batch of players and staff members.
“It’s a process; dahan-dahan lang (we’re taking it slowly),” said PBA board vice chairman Bobby Rosales.
The practice hall should also be disinfected before and after training.
Vargas and Rosales added that players who have not yet been tested for Covid-19 are not allowed to join the practice.
“Testing is a must. Hindi puwedeng bumalik kung walang testing (They cannot return if there is no testing),” Vargas said.
Players from the San Miguel Corporation-owned clubs have already tested negative for Covid-19, while testing will also be done to the players of the MVP Group-owned teams by next week.
Once approved, teams can return to practice by the end of June provided that all the players are free from the virus. (PNA)
