NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao. INQUIRER PHOTO/TRISTAN TAMAYO
MANILA, Philippines—The PBA’s plans of hosting a bubble to restart the season got a big support from one of its most vocal personalities.
NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao pushed for the use of Clark Freeport Zone as a possible venue for the PBA’s bubble, which would allow the league to resume its 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Three things. First, we have the rooms – the accommodation by hotels in Clark that can entail 12 teams. So that’s about 400 to 500 people,” said Guiao in a statement from Clark Development Corporation.
“Second, Clark is gated. It is self-contained so safety and health protocols can be easily implemented there. Third is proximity. It’s close to Manila and other places as well. In case one of the players has a family emergency, they can easily get out of the bubble so it’s a factor.”
Clark has been a business and tourist hub for generations and is home to several hotels that can house the 12 teams of the PBA and the league’s officials.
The special economic zone is also near Metro Manila and Guiao said that players can easily leave the bubble environment if the need arises.
“We already saw it last year. Some games happened in Clark. Again, for the same reason, because it is conveniently located, there are plenty of open spaces, we have the facilities – first-class hotels, we have the expertise – people who are highly educated and know how to handle such sporting events and we also have a lot of sports fans there,” said Guiao.
Clark already hosted events for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, including the closing ceremonies, swimming events, and track competitions.
Apart from Clark, the PBA is looking at Cubao, Baguio, El Nido, Laguna, Batangas, Subic, and even Dubai as possible bubble sites.