PBA: Safety first, say assistant coaches Olsen Racela, Topex Robinson
By Jonas Terrado
As much as they are eager to see practices and games resume in the near future, safety remains a priority for some PBA assistant coaches.
Barangay Ginebra assistant coach Olsen Racela (MB File Photo)
“Kami naman kasi gusto namin makapaglaro na ulit at ang mga tao rin gusto nang manood ng games sana ng PBA,” said Barangay Ginebra San Miguel assistant Olsen Racela in the recent “Kamustahan” episode of the PBA.
“But the important thing is safety first, kasi as basketball players, health ang unang pinagkakaingatan at yun ang puhunan natin,” added the former San Miguel Beermen star.
The PBA is eyeing a resumption of team practices early next month if the Inter-Agency Task Force approves the proposed health guidelines set during the Board of Governors meeting last June 3.
A possible resumption of the PBA’s 45th season currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic won’t be decided until August, with PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial acknowledging that several scenarios are being studied.
Racela’s fellow Ginebra assistant Richard del Rosario had earlier proposed an idea of a bubble treatment that will see teams being isolated in hotels and small arenas during a two-month period in order to complete the season.
The bubble setup is the same thing being planned by the NBA where 22 of 30 teams will stay at the Walt Disney World in Orlando to resume the season.
Phoenix Super LPG assistant coach Topex Robinson (MB File Photo)
Phoenix Super LPG assistant coach Topex Robinson, however, has reservations about the bubble concept.
“I’m not sure if it will be applicable in a Philippine setting,” Robinson said. “Obviously, the budget’s gonna be a big factor and yun yung isang bagay that we really have to consider.
“Another thing, obviously, is also the health din. At this very early stage of COVID, I think it’s gonna be a big risk. If you gonna do it sooner than what’s really been told by the government, because I mean numbers doesn’t lie, it’s really going up and yung risk kasi niya is really alarming.
“Obviously, we wanna bring entertainment or we wanna bring back basketball, but I think ang priority pa rin is health e. Yun pa rin main priority because we don’t want to put ourselves and our families’ health at risk if we gonna do it right now.
“For now, I don’t think it’s gonna work for us, but I know in the soonest possible time, the PBA’s doing something to bring it back para sa mga sumusubaybay sa atin,” added Robinson.
Barangay Ginebra assistant coach Olsen Racela (MB File Photo)
“Kami naman kasi gusto namin makapaglaro na ulit at ang mga tao rin gusto nang manood ng games sana ng PBA,” said Barangay Ginebra San Miguel assistant Olsen Racela in the recent “Kamustahan” episode of the PBA.
“But the important thing is safety first, kasi as basketball players, health ang unang pinagkakaingatan at yun ang puhunan natin,” added the former San Miguel Beermen star.
The PBA is eyeing a resumption of team practices early next month if the Inter-Agency Task Force approves the proposed health guidelines set during the Board of Governors meeting last June 3.
A possible resumption of the PBA’s 45th season currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic won’t be decided until August, with PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial acknowledging that several scenarios are being studied.
Racela’s fellow Ginebra assistant Richard del Rosario had earlier proposed an idea of a bubble treatment that will see teams being isolated in hotels and small arenas during a two-month period in order to complete the season.
The bubble setup is the same thing being planned by the NBA where 22 of 30 teams will stay at the Walt Disney World in Orlando to resume the season.
Phoenix Super LPG assistant coach Topex Robinson (MB File Photo)
Phoenix Super LPG assistant coach Topex Robinson, however, has reservations about the bubble concept.
“I’m not sure if it will be applicable in a Philippine setting,” Robinson said. “Obviously, the budget’s gonna be a big factor and yun yung isang bagay that we really have to consider.
“Another thing, obviously, is also the health din. At this very early stage of COVID, I think it’s gonna be a big risk. If you gonna do it sooner than what’s really been told by the government, because I mean numbers doesn’t lie, it’s really going up and yung risk kasi niya is really alarming.
“Obviously, we wanna bring entertainment or we wanna bring back basketball, but I think ang priority pa rin is health e. Yun pa rin main priority because we don’t want to put ourselves and our families’ health at risk if we gonna do it right now.
“For now, I don’t think it’s gonna work for us, but I know in the soonest possible time, the PBA’s doing something to bring it back para sa mga sumusubaybay sa atin,” added Robinson.