MANILA – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) officially reduced its Season 45 following President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to extend the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until the end of the month.
According to PBA commissioner Willie
Marcial, a meeting with the league’s board on April 30 will determine if this
season will adopt a two-conference format or it will just continue the
suspended Philippine Cup once the country is clear from the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19).
“The leaning of the board right now is two conferences. Pero kapag humaba pa ang current
situation, baka maging isang
conference na lang.” Marcial said through a statement last night.
“Apart from it, the board is also concerned with the welfare of the fans, the employees and the players. Since the board members were in one direction in the measures we’re looking at, the meeting lasted for only a little over an hour,” he added.
All board members and members of the Commissioner’s Office Management Committee, which is led by PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, were able to hook up in the online meeting.
PBA’s 2020 Philippine Cup already played a game – between defending champions San Miguel Beermen and Magnolia Hotshots – before the league was halted due to President Duterte’s ECQ declaration.
On the other hand, PBA will still proceed with its inaugural 3×3 tournament, but the fate of its postponed PBA Developmental League (D-League) is still uncertain after collegiate leagues in the country made their respective decisions for 2020.
“Should they (school leagues) decide to scrap theirs, then the D-League would push through. But we’re also talking to the teams,” Marcial said.
“As for the 3×3, we’ll convene the teams once the PBA tourney has resumed. The plan remains the same. Magsisimula maglaro ang 3×3 sa mga third week ng PBA season,” Marcial added.
PBA officials were also unanimous on their decision to continue extending their hands to regular PBA employees and PBA game-day personnel like referees, table officials and statisticians, among others. They will also pitch in to help frontliners battle the deadly COVID-19.
“The board has decided to donate P1 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPE). I was tasked to be the point man. Ako ang maghahanap ng gagawa ng PPE at i–do-donate namin ito doon sa mas mga nangangailangan,” said Marcial./PN
