As local Covid-19 restrictions continue in the metro-Manila area, 9 PBA teams have been forced to practice in Batangas City. With the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) still unsure of a start date for the season, the start of practice indicates that the season will begin soon.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial told the press that even though the NCP Plus bubble has been recently classified into a lower general community quarantine, teams are still not allowed to practice or scrimmage within the National Capital Region (NCR).
Malacañang announced the new classification for the NCP Plus bubble on May 13th, 2021. Under the new classification, indoor sports arenas and complexes are still not allowed to operate in Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna.
Commissioner Marcial also told the media that the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) sought reclassification for the PBA but could not obtain permission to practice in metro-Manila. However, he went on to say that there is no problem with gathering or practicing outside of the area.
Only three teams could not make the trip to Batangas City; TNT, Meralco, and NLEX decided to practice in their areas outside of the NCR.
Commissioner Marcial also told media sources that the PBA teams would likely return to the Manila area if the restrictions are eased and the teams can practice. The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on emerging infectious diseases is expected to update the covid-restrictions on May 30th.
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The PBA has yet to announce the start date of the Philippine Cup but has announced that they could start in a bubble as little as two weeks after teams begin practicing.
While the plan is not to have the Philippine Cup or regular-season games contained to a metaphorical bubble, there might not be many choices depending on the containment of the coronavirus.
Now it looks that the PBA is preparing to begin the 2021 season with the Philippine Cup in a bubble. However, the PBA will make further announcements after the IATF address the state of the virus in the NCR on May 30th.
