PBA postpones games starting Friday per IATF recommendation

Virtuals fans appear on the LED screens inside the AUF Sports Arena & Cultural Center where the PBA games are held. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—The PBA will be postponing its Philippine Cup games starting Friday in compliance with the government’s recommendations following two positives cases inside the bubble in Clark, Pampanga.

In a statement on Friday, the league said the postponement is in compliance with advice from the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases Technical Working Group and the Department of Health “to ensure the integrity and safety” of the bubble.

A player from Blackwater and one of the league’s referees tested positive for COVID-19 but were eventually cleared of the virus after their second RT-PCR tests ultimately came out negative.

But the government bodies still recommended for a momentary stoppage of play . The league will continue when the new protocols from the IATF and DOH are set in place.

“The PBA would like thank the IATF, DOH, and Clark Development Corporation for their continuous support and guidance,” said the league in a statement.

The league resumed on October 11 under the bubble set up.  A total of 19 game days have been played since then while two of Blackwater’s games were shelved since the first positive case came to light.