PBA commissioner Willie Marcial is not ruling out the possibility that Batangas City may end up as a venue for the 46th season.
Marcial said in a TV interview that the likelihood of having games in his hometown will depend on the COVID-19 situation and the success of the upcoming PBA practices in the city.
“Titignan natin kung ano sitwasyon,” Marcial said in One Sports’ The Game ahead of Friday’s visit where he and city officials will finalize protocols and other details of the practices.
“Kung successful naman at pinapayagan tayo ng (Inter-Agency) Task Force na mag-scrimmages dun, tatanungin natin kung pwede din na baka maglaro ng season or ng conference. Kahit isang conference or 1-2 months,” added Marcial.
Mayor Beverley Dimacuha and fifth district representative Marvey Marino gave the nod for the PBA to allow its team to hold practices in the city’s three venues, including the Batangas City Sports Center where out-of-town games were held in the past.
Batangas City is currently under General Community Quarantine, which allows practices that are divided into groups.
But the PBA has requested the IATF that 5-on-5 scrimmages may be allowed in GCQ areas. Scrimmages are only permitted in places under Modified General Community Quarantine.
PBA teams are limited to virtual workouts since Metro Manila and provinces under NCR Plus are under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine until at least May 14.
The league was supposed to start this month, and had discussions with Antipolo City as a possible site for the 46th season since the Rizal capital was under MGCQ until mid-March.
Ilocos Norte has offered to host a PBA bubble if the league decides to go with the said arrangement it had last season when the Philippine Cup was held under a closed environment in Clark, Pampanga.