PUERTO PRINCESA CITY –– The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) has allowed the resumption of professional basketball and football conditioning and practices, as the government eased community quarantine restrictions to several cities, areas, and provinces in the country.
Former Palawan Governor Baham Mitra, chairman of Games and Amusement Board (GAB), told the Inquirer on Tuesday morning that professional basketball and football leagues Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and Philippine Football League (PFL) were allowed to resume training in low-risk areas.
“PBA and PFL will do their practices and hopefully resume mid-August, but they need to shape up and be match-fit first,” he said.
He added, however, that other professional leagues such as Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), Philippine Super Liga (PSL), and Premiere Volleyball League (PVL) were not part of the IATF nod, citing that they were not under GAB’s supervision.
The board also intends to host live stream the leagues as mass gatherings remained prohibited by the IATF.
“To comply with IATF guidelines, (we will be) allowing live streaming of sporting events as no audience was advised,” Mitra said.
He also disclosed that GAB was batting for the inclusion of professional boxing to begin training as the agency had sent its strict safety protocols.
“Boxing promoters are getting ready with their cards as it will be allowed in modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) areas with RT-PCR testing and no inter-zonal travels for fighters,” Mitra added.