Games and Amusements Board chairman Baham Mitra encouraged the Philippine Basketball Association to consider doing a ‘bubble’ here when it resumes with its tournament instead of holding it abroad.
Mitra said holding a bubble outside of the country is risky since people involved would be in danger of being infected with possible exposure when traveling abroad.
“We’re very happy that the PBA is looking at that route, but hopefully they do a bubble here in the Philippines,” said Mitra when he guested on The Chasedown on Cignal TV’s One PH last Saturday.
“When they ride the plane, they’ll be exposed. Of course I’m so happy that the PBA may go into a bubble.”
The former governor of Palawan said that even before the restart of the PBA teams practice sessions, he already suggested to the league to have a bubble similar to what the NBA is doing in Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Mitra said the health protocol for a ‘bubble’ to work successfully is to start with a 14-day quarantine for an individual.
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If there is no COVID-19 symptom, that person would need a swab test, and if negative, that is the only time he or she could enter the premises.
“Hindi naman kami mahigpit, basta ganun lang ang kailangang sundin pag nagkaroon ng bubble. Syempre pag nasa loob na, bawal na lumabas. Kasi kung lalabas, 14-day quarantine uli pag gusto ng uli pumasok,” he said.
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PBA commissioner Willie Marcial has already mentioned several places where hotels already expressed interest to host the league in its plans to resume with the Philippine Cup.
READ: PBA bubble plan unaffected by NBA crisis, says Commissioner Willie Marcial
Marcial did not mention the hotels, but he said these are from Laguna, Subic, Batangas, and El Nido, while hotels in Pasay City and Quezon City have expressed interest as well to host the PBA.
The league chief said about four hotels in Dubai have already reached out to him regarding the ‘bubble’ and they are also exploring that possibility and the PBA has already given the list of requirements.
“Kinakausap naming isa-isa, like sa El Nido gusto nilang magtayo ng tent, and gagawa sila ng court. Ang tanong lang is saan sila kukuha ng wooden flooring if ever. Pero wala pa sa nitty-gritty madami pang usapan,” said Marcial.
Under the Joint Administrative Order of GAB, Philippine Sports Commission and Department of Health, professional athletes have been given the green light to return to training.
The league resumed with the practice sessions of teams starting Tuesday, and Marcial said he would assess things depending on the COVID-19 cases and situation in Metro Manila, which is currently on General Community Quarantine level on the lockdown.
Marcial said he hopes to meet with PBA chairman Ricky Vargas this week to discuss the proposals of hotels interested in hosting the league’s resumption with the Philippine Cup.
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“Baka mag-present kami sa board this week or next,” said Marcia, adding that among the topics they need to discuss is the financial aspect since holding a bubble is an expensive move.