MANILA – Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Willie Marcial is optimistic that they can at least salvage the 2020 Philippine Cup which was halted by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
PBA, however, will have to wait until August to determine the future of its season.
“The board’s decision is to wait until August. Medyo matagal pa iyon. Hopefully, by that time, medyo okay na, and allowed na ang gathering in sports events like in the PBA,” said Marcial. Marcial said that the resumption of sporting events in Taiwan and South Korea, and with United States and Europe following suit soon gives him hope that PBA can at least have the Philippine Cup crown a champion this season.
“A handful of National Basketball Association (NBA) teams are opening their practice facilities, and it could well lead to resumption of the NBA season. Major League Baseball is looking to reopen in July. Football in Europe is about to resume. All these make me hopeful we can resume our Season 45,” said Marcial.
The PBA commissioner supports the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ decision to place Metro Manila under modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until the end of this month, at least.
Under the modified GCQ approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, communities are still severely restricted. People are only allowed to leave their homes during emergency situations and for buying food and other basic necessities.
Before Duterte’s ECQ declaration, the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup played a single game before it was halted. Defending champions San Miguel Beermen slammed the Magnolia hotshots, 94-78./PN
