By Jonas Terrado
Keeping in shape has never been as critical for PBA players.
Pros are making sure they stay fit even during the community quarantine period imposed around Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.
Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, basketball never stops for some of PBA players and find time to go for quick workouts and shootarounds while the season is indefinitely suspended. (Screengrab compilation of Instagram stories from Paul Lee, Kiefer Ravena, Cliff Hodge, RR Pogoy and Baser Amer)
With the league ordering a halt to regular practices for the next two weeks in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), several players have taken initiatives of training on their own.
“Halos sarado lahat ng basketball court,” said San Miguel Beer’s Arwind Santos on his Instagram story. “San kaya merong open para makapagpapawis man lang at makatakbo-takbo ng konti?”
Meralco’s Baser Amer found one, spending Sunday morning at a covered court in Cainta alongside NorthPort’s Garvo Lanete. They were accompanied by Amer’s fiancee Justine Balgan and Lanete’s girlfriend Shelby Pearl.
Baser Amer doing drills as seen on his fiancee Justine Balgan's reposted Instagram story.
NorthPort's Garvo Lanete, right, and his girlfriend Shelby Pearl join Meralco's Baser Amer and fiancee Justine Balgan in workout at a covered court in Cainta, Rizal as seen on Baser's Instagram story @baseramer09.
Amer’s teammate Cliff Hodge also did some time training, but also took precautionary measures by spraying a pair of basketballs with alcohol.
Meralco's Cliff Hodge sprinkles alcohol on basketballs as seen on his Instagram story @therealchodge1.
TNT KaTropa’s Roger Pogoy, on the other hand, spent time shooting jumpers at an outdoor court while NLEX’s Kiefer Ravena did the same along with brother Thirdy Ravena and Rain or Shine rookie Adrian Wong at a garage where a basketball ring was installed.
TNT's Roger Pogoy goes for a shootaround as seen on his Instagram story @rrpogoy16.
Kiefer Ravena is joined by brother Thirdy Ravena and Rain or Shine rookie Adrian Wong at a basketball garage as seen on Kiefer's Instagram story @kieferravena15.
Magnolia’s Paul Lee posted Instagram stories of him lifting weights while his wife Rubie and daughter Tokyo look on while Barangay Ginebra San Miguel's Scottie Thompson trained Saturday evening with younger brother Justin at the University of Perpetual Help Gym in Las Pinas City.
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Magnolia's Paul Lee lift weights while daughter Tokyo (off screen) imitates him as seen on Paul's Instagram story @lethalweapon03.
Alaska, meanwhile, initiated a Home Workout Challenge on social media in an effort to boost team chemistry.
Vic Manuel, Jeron Teng and even team governor Dickie Bachmann were among those who took part in the challenge while coach Jeffrey Cariaso said he climbed 27 floors of the condominium where he and his family reside.
“It’s just a fun way of checking up on each other,” Cariaso told the Manila Bulletin. “Players have great work ethic anyway, so this challenge was easy for them.”