Fate of pro leagues depends on next quarantine status anew

The lifting of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine is something the pro leagues are anticipating as President Duterte is expected Monday to announce new regulations on Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.

Government officials had been hinting on the possibility of bringing Mega Manila back to a General Community Quarantine after Tuesday, which will pave the way for the PBA, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 and Philippines Football League to begin training sessions.

The training sessions for the teams in the said pro leagues were delayed after National Capital Region, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal were put under MECQ last Aug. 4 amid calls by health workers to put stricter protocols in order for them to combat the COVID-19 virus.

The PBA, in fact, already has scheduled a mandatory swab testing for nine teams at the Makati Medical Center on Thursday and Friday, with the three clubs of San Miguel Corporation set to hold their own procedure on almost the exact dates.

If tests come back negative after three days, the teams can start training under strict health measures as early as Aug. 25 in their respective practice facilities.

Chooks 3x3, on the other hand, plans to have a centralized venue for teams to hold workouts for smooth contact tracing and disinfection.

Several players and staff in the PFL have tested negative after PCR tests were held at the Philippine Football Federation office in Ortigas. The PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite will be the training ground for all clubs.