Sports NEWS

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial is taking the next big step to restarting the stalled Philippine Cup two weeks after the pro league got the green light from the Inter-Agency Task Force to resume limited team practice under strict health and safety protocols.

For local professional boxing to get the events going, promoters may have to join hands to produce fights and help Filipino boxers affected by the economy due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) announced Friday that the government has approved the training and competition of professional practitioners of boxing, muay thai, kickboxing and mixed martial arts subject to strict health guidelines in areas covered by the Modified General Community Quarantine.

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Youth and Sports Development has promised to help Tokyo Olympic qualifiers and hopefuls after the Philippine Sports Commission sought financial help in funding their training.

National athletes and coaches can soon avail of discounts as mandated by law after the Philippine Sports Commission announced it is in the process of distributing IDs and booklets.

The Commission on Higher Education echoed the reminder of the Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusement Board and Department of Health which issued the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) on the conduct of physical activities and sports in a virtual meeting held Wednesday regarding the alleged practice of some universities, reminding universities and colleges to follow applicable guidelines.

CJ Cansino cannot help but to respond again to several claims via Twitter regarding the fast UP recruitment process and their life in the training bubble.

Note: As part of the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) Group tasked to realign sports programs during this time of pandemic, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez shared his thoughts about the recent controversy involving University of Santo Tomas men’s basketball team and its alleged unauthorized training practice in Sorsogon.

The Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) plans to hold a training bubble for select national team members as part of its preparations for Olympic qualifying tournaments and the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.

University of Santo Tomas is conducting its own internal probe on the alleged unauthorized training bubble of its men’s basketball team in Sorsogon.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez said the University of Santo Tomas men’s basketball team violated Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines when it went into a training bubble in Sorsogon during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association are appealing for a visa extension for Olympic-bound pole vaulter EJ Obiena for him to be able to continue his training in Formia, Italy.

The Philippine Sports Commission hopes it could restore the athletes’ allowances into full by the end of the year once it receives its usual remittances from the government.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez said the government sports agency is committed to its employees especially during this time of the coronavirus pandemic.

NSAs urged to find alternate venues for now

If and when the national team athletes are allowed to return to prepare for various Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT), the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Emerging Infectious Diseases will provide swab testing for all involved before they enter the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

The government agencies that formed the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) yesterday issued a clarification that only professional leagues can return to action when it is allowed later this month.

Although the Philsports Complex in Pasig City was locked down after a staff of the Philippine Sports Commission tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), an official of the agency assured the facility is COVID-19 free.