Austria: PBA players, personnel disciplined enough to keep practices safe

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel head coach Leo Austria believes PBA players and personnel are disciplined enough in keeping a safe environment once team practices resume.

The eight-time champion has no doubt that the players will comply with the standard health protocols everyone as the league hopes to resume its season.

“I believe PBA personnel, be it a coach or a player, wouldn’t have reached where they are right now if they didn’t have any discipline,” said Austria in a TV5 report.

“This is their job and there should always be a safety net for everyone. I think as a whole, the players will easily comply.”

The PBA suspended its games on March 11, just three days after just one game due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that PBA teams are in some sort of a bubble once the individual team workouts resume since players are only allowed to go to their practice facilities and back to their homes.

Players and other personnel are also required to report if they received visitors or if they went to other places during their days off.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases already allowed professional basketball and football teams to continue with their practices as long as they follow strict health protocols.

“We’re in a bubble so from practice to going home, everyone should be disciplined enough and follow the regulations,” said Austria. “The only travel that will happen will be home then practice venue so that we can avoid the transmission of the virus.”