Marcial: ‘Earliest’ possible PBA return could be in June

FILE – PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — With the resumption of the games still in limbo due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Philippine Basketball Association is now surveying what other options it has left moving forward.

“We don’t know how long this is going to drag on,” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said in Filipino in a story on the league’s website.

“Chairman Ricky Vargas has called a video conference. The board will assess the situation and will make a thorough study on the steps we have to undertake,” said Marcial.

Marcial, however, admitted it will take time before things return to normal.

“From what I’m seeing, the earliest the PBA could return is in June because if the country is able to flatten the curve in April or May, I have to give our teams a month of practices before we resume play,” he said.

The league had already banned team practices and other basketball activities a day prior Luzon was placed under an enhanced community quarantine last month. It then moved to extend its suspension in accordance with the lockdown measures.

Malacañang on Sunday said it would likely extend the lockdown to two more weeks.

Timely assists
There’s another wave of PBA stars helping the marginalized and the frontline workers amid the crisis.

Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon handed out relief items to the homeless around the cities of San Juan and Caloocan. Alaska’s Vic Manuel and Abu Tratter have sine followed the footsteps of coach Jeff Cariaso in assisting their respective communities.

Meanwhile, national team mainstays Marc Pingris, Japeth Aguilar, Kiefer Ravena and June Mar Fajardo took part in a videogame showcase on Monday night to help bolster esports body Mineski’s fundraising program which aims to support the UP Medical Foundation.

“Everybody is now finding ways to help especially during the ECQ. Times are getting harder by the day, for the frontliners, there are more and more cases to attend to; and for the citizens, waking up every day trying to figure out where will they get their next meal,” Kiefer Ravena told the Inquirer.

“Now’s the time to set aside our difference and stay together to beat COVID19,” added the Gilas Pilipinas skipper.