Phoenix Super LPG Fuel head coach Louie Alas proposed to the PBA Tuesday to have one training venue for several teams in order to centralize disinfection when practice session resumes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Alas said the Fuel Masters are considering The Upper Deck in Pasig City, the team’s practice facility prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, but they received report the badminton area beside the basketball courts is now open for the sport’s enthusiasts.
“Mahirap sa tingin ko kung ganun na may kasabay kami sa venue, maski na sa kabilang court naman. Under PBA health protocols mahirap yun,” said Alas in a phone interview with Manila Bulletin.
“So tingin ko, I’ll suggest na isang practice facility na lang for like six teams. Kasi ibang teams naman may regular na sila, or may sarili na silang training venue na sila lang ang gumagamit,” he added.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial is set to meet Friday with the league’s 12 coaches and team managers to discuss parameters and health guidelines of practice sessions after the Inter-Agency Task Force allowed the return to training of PBA players.
One ideal venue, Alas said, is the Gatorade Hoops Gym in Mandaluyong City.
The said basketball court is the current ‘home’ of the Alaska Aces, and mentor Jeffrey Cariaso confirmed that the team would continue to use the venue when the PBA commissioner’s office allows teams to return to practice.
“Praying we can go back soon, but we need to make sure first that the safety protocols are in place,” said Cariaso.
The venue is owned by former PBA coach Franz Pumaren.
Of the 12 teams in the PBA, a couple has its “own” practice facility.
TNT KaTropa has the Moro gym inside the Ateneo campus, the Meralco Bolts have the company gym at the main office in Quezon City, and the NLEX Road Warriors use the FCL gym also in QC.
San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua said their three teams would continue to practice at their respective venue – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at The Upper Deck, Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok at Ronac in San Juan, and San Miguel Beer at Acropolis gym.
However, coach Leo Austria of SMB said they still have to find out if their usual haunt remains available. “Hindi pa namin alam kung papayag na ang Acropolis (management), kaya nage-inquire kami sa ibang gym,” he said.
The same goes for Rain or Shine, which is clarifying things with management of Reyes gym in Mandaluyong City. GlobalPort, according to league governor Erick Arejola, is mulling its options.