PBA awaits clearance for scrimmages inside bubble

Arrival of teams in the PBA Bubble. CDC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The waiting game inside the PBA bubble has now begun.

A day after teams arrived and were tested at Quest Hotel in Clark, the first bit of work they have to do is wait patiently for the results of their swab tests for COVID-19.

A clean slate will allow teams to conduct practices and full 5-on-5 scrimmages but a player who tests positive will have to remain in his room until he’s medically cleared to join his club.

“Everybody is looking forward to get back into action again,” said Phoenix interim head coach Topex Robinson as per PBA.ph.

Magnolia, TNT, Meralco, Terrafirma, and Phoenix were the first teams to arrive in the bubble while San Miguel, Rain or Shine, Blackwater, NLEX, Alaska, Northport, and Barangay Ginebra arrived later on Tuesday.

Vince Dizon, the CEO of Bases Conversion and Development Authority, said the results of the tests usually come out after a day or two.

The BCDA oversees the development of Clark.

“We’re waiting for the results, typically it’s 24-48 hours,” said Dizon, who is also the country’s testing czar, as he welcomed the PBA into Clark.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said scrimmages will only take place once the results are out.

“We’re just waiting for the test result, after that we’re good to go and we’re going to conduct scrimmages,” said Marcial in Filipino.