The bid of the PBA to start its 46th season this April has received the support of governing agencies tasked to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vince Dizon assured that the Inter-Agency Task Force and the National Task Force against COVID-19 which he serves as deputy chief implementer have their full backing regardless of whatever setup the PBA plans to observe for next season.
“Hindi natin masasabi kung ano mangyayari sa mga susunod na buwan so talagang week-on-week, month-on-month tayo magdedesisyon,” Dizon said during his appearance in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum for the calendar year.
“Ang macocommit namin is regardless kung full bubble, semi-bubble, may audience o walang audience, gagawin namin ang lahat sa IATF at sa NTF para suportahan ang PBA para matuloy ang 46th season,” added the president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
The BCDA was among the prime movers in the successful staging of the recent Philippine Cup held under a bubble setup at Quest Hotel in Clark and the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in nearby Angeles City.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, however, earlier expressed his leanings towards having a closed-circuit setup for the 46th season which could kick off on April 9 with the centerpiece Philippine Cup.
Marcial once again explained the challenges the PBA endured during the Clark bubble which cost around P65 million. He added, however, that holding another bubble is not out of the question since it will still depend on the situation of the pandemic in the next few months.
“Ang hirap nung bubble na ginawa,” said Marcial in the online forum. “Nakita ko yung sitwasyon ng lahat ng delegates kasi nung first month nahihirapan sila mag-adjust. Nung nagustuhan na namin, ok na pero yung first few weeks ang hirap ng pangyayari.
“At pangalawa, ang laki ng gastos ng bubble. Kaya tignan natin, di ko pa masasabi kung ano kaya siguro by February makakapagdesisyon na tayo kung ano ang gagawin natin sa April,” added Marcial.
One big factor in determining the PBA setup, Marcial said, is whether the vaccine can be available by the time the league reaches its target date.
“Hintayin muna natin at baka may vaccine na sa April na sana meron para di na tayo magbubble at sana makapanood na rin yung mga fans,” he said.