MANILA – The City of Passi in Iloilo province will have to wait until next year to host the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Star Weekend as the league decided to abandon the annual festivity this year.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said on Tuesday the uncertainty of things due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced them to say goodbye to the much-anticipated side event for the first time since it was institutionalized in 1989.
“As of now, cancelled na ang All-Star (Weekend). Ire-resume natin by next year. Kung papayag uli ang Passi City, sila pa rin (ang host),” Marcial said in an interview published on the PBA website.
One of the points that lead to the All-Star festivities’ cancellation, according to the commissioner, is the ambiguity of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases on when will they allow the PBA to resume the stalled season.
“If ever, we’re good for (just) one conference (2020 PBA Philippine Cup). Eh mag-bobotohan pa tayo (for the composition of the PBA All-Star teams), then kakausapin pa ang (organizers nang)venue,” Marcial said.
“As of now, papayag ba ang venue na pumunta tayo doon? At the same time, alam ko ang mga venues sa probinsya ginagamit na quarantine centers,” he added.
The PBA thought of ways to salvage its All-Star Weekend as it will create real interactions between the players and their fans, aside from the fact that the event generates some amount for the league’s Players Trust Fund. However, COVID-19 continues proving itself to be a pesky problem.
“PBA’s All-Star event generates at least P1 million for the Players Trust Fund, which is dedicated to the scholarships of the children of the PBA players,” Marcial said. “But all we can do now is to wait.”
Passi City has hosted a PBA match before. It was the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup showdown between Talk ‘N Text KaTropa and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. The former won 110-104.
Iloilo City, on the other hand, has been host to PBA’s All-Star festivities twice. The 2000 and 2018 editions were both played at the University of San Agustin Gym./PN
