JUST when the PBA’s bid to get back to normalcy was gaining momentum, along came a speed bump.
The government’s decision to place NCR under Alert Level 3 starting today and up to Jan. 15 greatly jeopardizes the PBA’s plans of playing out its season-ending Governors Cup tournament, much more doing so before fans.
No less than PBA commissioner Willie Marcial admitted uncertainties are again the order of the day for his league, which has been set to resume play on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Maghihintay lang kami,” Marcial told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday.
“Kakausapin ko, siguro by tomorrow (Monday) ang IATF, GAB at LGUs kung papaano na tema, kung makakalaro pa tayo, wala ng fans o limitado lang papayagan sa loob ng venue, ‘yung mga protocols,” added Marcial.
“Baka by Tuesday may linaw na kung papaano tayo.”
Still, Marcial can’t help but rue the fact the PBA may again play before an empty venue.
“Dahan-dahan na sanang nagkakaroon ang mga fans ng kumpiyansang manood, eh. Tapos eto na naman tayo,” lamented Marcial, adding an average of 2,000 to 3,000 fans have flocked to the Big Dome ever since play, which started at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, shifted there last Dec. 15.
“Kasi mabigat iyung 25th at 26th,” added Marcial. “‘Yung 25 kulang-kulang na 5,000, nu’ng 26 kulang na 3,000.”
Aside from returning to the Quezon City venue where it hasn’t been to since March 8, 2020, the PBA also has games scheduled at the MOA Arena on Jan. 15 and 16.
Marcial, however, maintained that health and safety of everyone is the PBA’s main concern and would continue to be so. “Ang pinakaunang gusto namin sa ganitong sitwasyon maging laging ligtas ang lahat so kung kinakailangan tayong bumalik ulit sa semi-bubble (setup) then gagawin natin iyon,” he said.
The government’s decision was based on the rising number of Covid cases in the country, particularly within Metro Manila, and as a means of helping curb the spread of the virus’ highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Should the measures prove successful, Marcial foresees the government easing up on the restrictions and the fans being allowed back into the venues.
“After 15 days mababa na naman mga kaso, balik na naman tayo sa alert 2 at malamang balik tayo sa may fans, kahit 50 percent (venue capacity) lang ulit,” said Marcial.
