PBA stays confident about potential return despite GCQ extension

PBA Commissioner Wille Marcial during the 45th season Media Day. INQUIRER PHOTO/TRISTAN TAMAYO

MANILA, Philippines — The recent extension of general community quarantine in Metro Manila won’t affect the Philippine Basketball Association’s plans for a possible resumption of the season later this year.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the decision of the government and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Management of Emerging Infectious Disease to keep Metro Manila under GCQ did not come as a surprise to him with confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country continuing to rise by the hundreds every day.

“COVID-19 hasn’t been contained, and so I myself was expecting Metro Manila staying under GCQ for the rest of the month. I really think Metro Manila will only ease into a less strict quarantine measures starting July,” said Marcial in a story on the PBA website.

“And July would not be late for our teams to have physical activities in the gym, leading hopefully to full practices and season return sooner than later,” he added.

Marcial also said the June 23 meeting with player representatives from all 12 teams will push through.

A separate discussion with coaches and team managers will also be held.

“Initially, it’s a meeting with team managers but then, there were coaches who also wanted to have a meeting,” said Marcial.

The 45th season has been halted since March 8 due to the coronavirus pandemic.