PBA set to discuss season’s future, players’ salaries amid pandemic

FILE – PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial during a meeting at the league’s office in Quezon City. INQUIRER PHOTO/TRISTAN TAMAYO

MANILA, Philippines—The PBA is set to address the future of the league with the country still grappling with the restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said the Board of Governors and the Management Committee will convene in a video conference on Saturday to discuss the league’s next moves, including the possible cancelation of the remainder of its 45th season.

The league has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic since March 11 and any large-scale sports events are highly unlikely to push through for the rest of the year.

One of the more important issues to be discussed is the guidelines on players’ salaries should be season be canceled.

Marcial, though, said that players are still receiving proper wages even amid the hiatus.

“As of now, everyone’s still receiving their salaries even though play is suspended,” said Marcial in English in a phone conversation with Inquirer.

“We’ll still set guidelines, though, because there are still possibilities [that the season will be cancelled], so right now I can’t say for sure.”

The 2020 season was just a game-day-old and that was the opening game of the Philippine Cup between San Miguel and Magnolia.

“We’ll discuss our future and everything will be discussed in that meeting,” said Marcial.