PBA officially on as IATF gives go signal for bubble

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The PBA is officially back after the league received a provisional approval from Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases to go ahead with its season resumption in Clark, Pampanga.

From the original schedule of October 9, the continuation of the Philippine Cup will now open on October 11 with more stringer testing protocols inside the bubble.

“The PBA is here. We’re going to play and you’re going to see us again from your homes,” said PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial in Filipino in a Zoom press conference Thursday.

Vince Dizon, the President and CEO of Bases Conversion and Development Authority, said the provisional approval was given since the PBA presented stricter protocols than what the Games and Amusements Board and the Department of Health recommended.

Dizon said the “provisional” status will be taken out once the DOH and GAB’s joint authority order reflects that of the PBA.

“Let’s not worry about the word provisional,” said Dizon, who is also the country’s COVID-19 testing czar.

“GAB and DOH has a joint authority order regarding sports and the PBA Bubble has stricter protocols compared to those from JAO. The GAB and the DOH will just amend their JAO so it would reflect that of the PBA because the PBA has stricter and safer measures,”

All those who will be housed inside the bubble—from players, team officials, media, and league staff—are required to undergo swab testing five days before they enter the environment and will have to undergo a strict home quarantine before entering Clark.

Despite testing negative from the initial test, those who will live inside the bubble will then be swab tested and will only be allowed to leave their respective hotel rooms if the result turns out negative once more.