Due to the rising COVID-19 Delta variant infections in the country, the PBA has decided to temporarily suspend the 2021 Philippine Cup starting on Wednesday, August 4.
The league announced the development on Tuesday morning, August 3, citing as well its support for the government's implementation of the strict General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened and additional restrictions in the National Capital Region from July 30 to August 5.
The PBA also bared that it has sent a request to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for them to temporarily transfer to Lipa, Batangas as the government is set to impose the more stringent Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in NCR from August 6 to 20.
"The league is waiting for the IATF's decision regarding its request to temporarily transfer and continue its games in Lipa, Batangas," it said in a statement.
The Department of Health recorded more than 8,000 COVID-19 cases--8,167 to be exact--as of 4 p.m. on Monday, marking the fourth straight day that the country breached the 8,000-mark.
Prior to the suspension of the games, Magnolia was comfortably sitting atop the 12-team standings with a perfect 4-0 record followed by TNT with a 3-0 slate and Meralco with a 4-1 card.