PBA action to resume next week in Bacolor

The provincial government of Pampanga formally approved the resumption of the PBA Philippine Cup as early as next week at the campus of Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial bared Monday, Aug. 23 that the league was given the go-signal by Pampanga governor Dennis Pineda but gave no definite timetable as to when the suspended season-opening conference will resume.

But Marcial said teams will be given about 7-8 days of practice before the restart.

Marcial added that the league is also awaiting the approval Dr. Enrique Baking, who serves as president of DHVSU.

DHVSU, a state university and one of the oldest institutions in the country, refurbished its gymnasium worth P30 million two years ago.

The approval came on the same day PBA teams arrived in different hotels and resorts within Pampanga for the start of their stays until the end of their Philippine Cup campaigns.

At least two teams, namely Magnolia and San Miguel Beer, opted to return at Quest Hotel in Clark, the same venue where the PBA contingent stayed for the duration of last season’s Philippine Cup bubble.

The week of practices will allow teams to regain their conditioning and reintegrate themselves to the system after the Philippine Cup was put on hold after the Aug. 1 doubleheader due to the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine regulations in Metro Manila.

The Philippine Cup was played for two weeks at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City before the season was put on pause.

The PBA was allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force to resume the season in areas under normal General Community Quarantine or Modified GCQ.