Arrival of teams in the PBA Bubble. CDC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The PBA’s success in hurdling the COVID-19 pandemic drew the interest of other leagues who are also looking to set up their own bubble environments, and commissioner Willie Marcial is more than willing to help.
In an interview with The Chasedown, Marcial said that PBA has already shared its experiences when it comes to holding competitions in a confined environment to the likes of Philippine Football League and Premier Volleyball League.
“We helped football after they asked us for our protocols and also volleyball with Mr. Ricky Palou,” said Marcial in Filipino. “They asked us for our protocols so we gave it to them.”
The PFL already held its 2020 season in a bubble in Carmona, Cavite while the PVL is looking at Trace College and Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna as possible venues for its competitions.
“We’re ready to help any league, and it won’t even be necessarily sports-related,” said Marcial who is also willing to lend a hand to the NCAA in its desire to hold its own bubble for Season 96. “We’ll do what we can.”
Apart from other local sports leagues, Marcial said that the PBA is also coordinating with Fiba and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in setting up the Clark bubble for the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The Philippines was chosen as one of the hosts of the February window with eight national teams, including Gilas Pilipinas, converging in Pampanga for the games.
Marcial said that they’re not just coordinating in terms of setting up the bubble, but also in regards to player availability.
The PBA is set to start the 2021 season in April, two months after the Asia Cup qualifiers, and Marcial said that the league will happily allow the professionals to join the national team.