The PBA could be given the option of purchasing vaccines directly from the government in order to boost its chances of starting the 46th season as early as possible.
San Miguel Corporation sports director and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel team governor Alfrancis Chua said the possibility was put on the table during a meeting Wednesday with Sen. Bong Go and executive secretary Salvador Medialdea at Malacanang.
“I asked Senator Bong kung pwede ba kaming ma-anuhan ng vaccine. Ang maganda rito, sabi niya kapag dumating yung sa government, bebentahan niya ang buong PBA para makapagsimula na,” Chua said in a press briefing held virtually Thursday, April 29.
(I asked Senator Bong if we could get a vaccine. The good thing about this, he said, is that the PBA can purchase vaccines from the government so that the season can start.)
Vaccination has been made as the league’s top priority since it is considered as the fastest route towards starting the season under a closed-circuit setup.
Plans for the 46th season to begin are currently at a standstill due to the current COVID-19 situation, and the government also told the PBA that it can’t start under the arrangement until there’s a decline in COVID-19 cases.
Aside from the government option, the league had already secured commitments from the Philippine Red Cross, SMC and Manny V. Pangilinan regarding the inoculation of the whole PBA family.
“Sinabi ni Sen. Bong na humingi kami ng tulong kay (vaccine czar Carlito Galvez) na magkaroon ng allocation ng PBA, pero sinasabi din nila na pag may mga vaccine na teams niyo, pwede kayo mag-vaccine," said Marcial.
“Hindi sinasabi na nagjujump tayo kasi yun daw ay karapatan ng mga kumpanya kung sinong ivavaccine,” added Marcial.