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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Switch to lighter restrictions means big for sports industry

Switch to lighter restrictions means big for sports industry

Published Nov 12, 2021 12:05 am

EDITORS DESK

Ramon Bonilla

There could be an abundance of reasons why Metro Manila’s switch to lighter restrictions that is embedded on Alert Level 2 opens a trove of excitement for sports fans, not to mention the influx of opportunities it could bring to the table for an industry that seemed to be half dead for countless months — some thriving on games with zero audience and others putting a full stop on events that is both detrimental to the leagues and also the well-being of players.

Under the more relaxed community quarantine guidelines released by the Inter-Agency Task Force, contact sports “shall be allowed to operate, or be undertaken at a maximum of 50% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only, and those below 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated, and 70 percent outdoor venue capacity.”

This development sounded like sweet music to big leagues like the Philippine Basketball Association, which staged two “bubble-type” tournaments in Pampanga with the most recent one finishing last month in Bacolor.

The love for the game — all devoted for the throng of fans in this basketball-crazed country — came with a heavy price, with the Clark bubble last year dangling a reported price tag of P65 million for a logistical burden that bordered from the food, accommodation, transportation, venue, and other tangibles for a tournament that lasted more than two months.

After months of waiting which prompted players to decry the lack of inactivity, leaders from each team stepped forward and chipped in from their pockets just to push through with another “bubble.” The genuine act of kindness paid off as the Philippine Cup materialized without a major hiccup from organizers — albeit a report of COVID cases — and only a word of gratitude to selfless individuals that set aside their own comforts and the rivalry in competition to make it work.

Aside from the PBA, there were other leagues that rolled the dice and made it through despite the challenges, such as the Premier Volleyball League, Chooks 3x3, Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, National Basketball League and the FilBasket.

With the implementation of lighter restrictions, the PBA laid out plans to allow a limited crowd for the season-ending Governors’ Cup which is on plot for a return in the last week of November.

If they were able to do it, how much more in today’s new setup with the government opening the gates, literally, for the fans to return to the sports stadiums, passionately cheer for their team of choice and relive the atmosphere that was once missing from one’s train of thought when this pandemic broke out.

The effects on sports industry of this relaxed quarantine status in Metro Manila may come in different shapes and sizes — for the players, team owners, businessmen, down to the utility men, referees, ticket sellers, that small vendor that sells food in arenas, or the boy that offers caps, shirts or other sorts of merchandise.

For sure, the coming weeks will be as exciting for the legion of loyal fans as we all return to normalcy.

(Ramon Rafael C. Bonilla is the head of Sports section of Manila Bulletin.)

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