MANILA – The 2019-2020 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Lakan Cup will not be abandoned no matter how long the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to suppress the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 lasts.
MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes made the assurance to the fans that the playoffs must go on.
“We’re going to finish the season. We’re just waiting for the clearance of the national government,” Duremdes said in a statement on April 22. “But there are a lot of issues to be tackled before we can resume.”
“First, we need to advice the four teams (San Juan Knights, Makati Super Crunch, Davao Occidental Tigers, and Basilan Steel) involved since they are all coming from inactivity and the players need to get back in shape,” he added. “Then, we need to consider the stand of the local government units.
According to Duremdes, the other factors to be considered are land travel, resumption of domestic flights, sea travel, and the availability of hotels, restaurants and game venues.
Both the North Division Finals between San Juan and Makati and the South Division Finals between Davao and Basilan are tied at 1-1, which means all the teams will go into a deciding Game 3.
The North and South winners will dispute for the Lakan Season national crown through a best-of-five series.
MPBL was also supposed to open its fourth season named the Mumbaki Cup on June 12, but it will be moved back owing to recent developments./PN
