Sports NEWS

Games and Amusements Board chairman Baham Mitra says he is excited to see professional athletes return to action – at least in practice sessions – when it is good to go under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

Games and Amusements Board Chairman Baham Mitra is urging Calvin Abueva to get away from the antics once his indefinite suspension is lifted by the PBA.

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Baham Mitra said his agency would adopt ways and means to improve the guidelines to be implemented by the leagues returning to practice sessions this month.

The planned return of practices in the professional level suffered a setback after the government imposed Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces beginning Tuesday.

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Baham Mitra said that if all professional athletes will cooperate, actual sports competition may soon be allowed by the government.

The Joint Administrative Order (JAO), made up of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and Department of Health (DOH), admits it will take more than just the submission of safety protocols for contact sports to get the go signal to resume training.

Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Commissioner Eric Altamirano said Thursday that movements of players will balance teams for the 2020 Season slated sometime in September.

Team practices in the professional ranks could be put on hold if plans of a stricter community quarantine measure in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces starting Aug. 1 pushes through.

The Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league has gained professional status from the Games and Amusements Board ahead of plans to start its second season in September.

After basketball and football, pro boxing could be next to get the green light from the government to have its practitioners resume training.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial has asked teams to coordinate with his office since forms need to be filled in by players for swab testing as the government finally allowed practice sessions.

GAB chairman Baham Mitra said he expects the official communication from the IATF giving the PBA and pro football to start practice sessions next week.

Blackwater owner Dioceldo Sy personally met with Games and Amusement Board chairman Baham Mitra Monday and apologized for the ‘unsanctioned practice’ last week that led to the team getting fined P100,000 by the Philippine Basketball Association.

Blackwater owner Dioceldo Sy is putting his team up for sale in the aftermath of possible sanctions from the PBA and the Games and Amusements Board for holding an unsanctioned practice over the weekend.

Amid the celebration over the decision to allow basketball and football to allow their athletes to return to training mode, the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) is awaiting answers from the Inter-Agency Task Force whether professional boxing can also follow suit.

The Philippine Football Federation has set up multiple guidelines on the potential return of football competitions in the professional and amateur scene once the government eases its community quarantine regulations.