PBA not leaving anything to chance with stricter protocols than NBA

Arrival of teams in the PBA Bubble. CDC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The NBA and its campus-like environment at Walt Disney World in Orlando served as the golden standard for the PBA’s own bubble restart in Clark, Pampanga.

While both are following the same concept, the PBA’s version is more stringent when it comes to the safety and health guidelines.

“The benchmark is the NBA,” said Vince Dizon, president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), during a press conference Tuesday. “But we have protocols that are stricter than what we see in the NBA.”

For the PBA restart, players on the bench are required to wear masks.

Family members of players are also not allowed to enter the bubble at any point of the season.

Giving high-fives or other forms of celebrations during games are also discouraged.

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An individual, whether a player or coach, who leaves the bubble won’t be allowed to return even if the reason for exiting was an excused family emergency.

“Samin papayagan po namin umuwi pag talagang emergency. Malaman naman namin yan kung emergency eh. Pwede umuwi pero hindi na makakabalik. Once na lumabas ka hindi ka na makakabalik,” PBA commissioner Willie Marcial stressed.

(We’re going to allow them to go home if it’s really an emergency because we will know if it really is an emergency. They can go home but they won’t be able to return. Once you leave the bubble you’re not allowed to go back.)

The first batch of teams entered the bubble Monday while the second and last batch is expected to arrive Tuesday.

The Philippine Cup is scheduled to resume on October 11 at Angeles University Foundation gym. Two games will be played every day.