PBA makes sure players remain in shape amid virus lockdown

FILE – Phoenix coach Louie Alas. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The coronavirus pandemic should not be an excuse for PBA players to slack off in keeping themselves in their peak shape even if the current season is suspended indefinitely.

And to make sure that a certain level of conditioning is being maintained, several teams like San Miguel, Phoenix, and Alaska have provided their players some workouts to do at home while also closely monitoring their health.

Beermen head coach Leo Austria said he and his staff are in contact with the players, urging them to maintain their form with the resumption of the league still unknown due to the deadly virus.

Austria said that he told his trainers to send video workouts to the players while the team’s physical therapist even suggested exercises routines that didn’t need equipment.

“They are responsible enough and they’re professionals so they know how to do those things,” said Austria in Filipino Sunday.

He added that Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross, and Marcio Lassiter have their own equipment to stay in shape while Moala Tautuaa and Von Pessumal jog inside their villages.

As for Alaska’s Jeffrey Cariaso, his players have cardio programs that complement their personal workouts.

“What we’ve done the past two weeks is give the players a cardio program that they must do along with their own personal workouts,” said Cariaso. “It’s really difficult to monitor so we are trusting the players that they understand the importance of staying in shape and put in the workout daily.”

Phoenix, meanwhile, took it up a notch higher.

Fuel Masters head coach Louie Alas said his team not only sent his players conditioning programs but also video clips of their plays so they won’t forget their system.

“We have physical conditioning wherein we sent them a program for body weight and training videos,” said Alas. “For mental conditioning, we sent video clips of our offensive and defensive plays through our group Telegram and Viber so they won’t forget defensive and offensive schemes.”

Blackwater head coach Nash Racela also made sure that they’re keeping tabs on his players by holding team workouts via Zoom.

“Mostly we have individual workouts but we do team workouts thrice a week via Zoom,” said Racela. “Rehab of injured players are being monitored too.”