By Tito S. Talao and Jonas Terrado The COVID-19 scare is turning the Philippine Basketball Association upside down. For 44 years the PBA has persevered to hold three-conference games in packed venues before record-breaking crowds. But with the coronavirus crisis reaching fevered heights in many parts of the world, league governors, along with commissioner Willie Marcial, will meet Tuesday night at Bonifacio Global City to decide how to proceed with the 45th season in near-empty arenas and vacant seats. PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, seated second from right, joins members of the league's Board of Governors after Tuesday's press launch at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City. Seated beside Marcial are, from left, Blackwater's Sillman Sy, PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT KaTropa and Columbian's Bobby Rosales while standing are Magnolia's Rene Pardo, Rain or Shine's Mamerto Mondragon, Alaska's Dickie Bachmann, Phoenix Pulse's Raymond Zorilla, Meralco's Al Panlilio, San Miguel Corporation Sports Director Alfrancis Chua, NorthPort's Erick Arejola and San Miguel Beer's Robert Non. (MB Photo / Manny Llanes) From soaring gate receipts to government-mandated zero attendance, if it comes to that. “No choice tayo,” says PBA commissioner Willie Marcial. “We need to address this matter the soonest.” That would be no later than 8 p.m., hours before the second playdate of the Philippine Cup Wednesday which would pit TNT KaTropa against Phoenix Super LPG and NLEX against NorthPort at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “Pag-uusapan namin kung itutuloy yung naka-schedule na laro,” says Marcial on the phone. “Ilalahad ko sa kanila lahat ng scenario. Puwedeng ma-suspend ang games ng one week, two weeks o one month. Puwede ring ilaro ng closed-door.” Marcial told the Bulletin earlier that a decision will depend on how it will impact the league’s television coverage, sponsorship deal and calendar for the 45th season which came off the wraps Sunday. The option to move closed-door games to smaller venues – if a decision to keep fans away is made – will also be discussed, but only if the government – through the Department of Health perhaps, says Marcial, mandates that PBA games could be held only if spectators are not present to prevent further spread of the virus. “Baka ma-penalize kasi kami pag nilaro namin sa mas maliit na venue kung sakaling closed-door na.” Even as the PBA mulls its next move with the rise in numbers of those locally infected, Marcial says the league is careful not cause unnecessary apprehension with other leagues. “Siempre tinitignan din nila ang PBA, hinihintay nila kung ano gagawin natin. Ayaw naman natin na mag-panic sila pag bigla tayong mag-cancel o suspend ng mga laro.” Meanwhile, if the PBA decides to push through with its regular playdate, TNT KaTropa takes on Phoenix Super LPG at 4:30 p.m. while NLEX and NorthPort face off at 7 p.m. The first doubleheader of the season-opening conference was supposed to put center Poy Erram on the spotlight. Erram is slated to make his debut with TNT KaTropa since being acquired from NLEX as part of a three-team deal which also involved Blackwater. His arrival has boosted TNT’s chances of competing for the prestigious Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy, given his ability to protect the shaded lane. NLEX continues to deal with life after Erram and the match with NorthPort will see if coach Yeng Guiao’s squad has the capability to compete sans the veteran center. The league went through with the season-opening Philippine Cup game between defending champion San Miguel Beer and Magnolia amid the rises of COVID-19 cases over the weekend. Safety measures were observed during the opener with the Big Dome requiring every person to undergo a thermometer scan while hand sanitizers and alcohol were placed in different areas. The decision will likely affect the ongoing PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup which already had three playdates since the tournament started last week. It would be recalled that both the tournaments were delayed last month as part of precaution against the spread of the disease. But with cases likely to rise in the next few days, the PBA may be in a better way of being safe than sorry.