It looks like Filipino basketball fans will have to wait a little longer for their favourite PBA teams to go back and strut their wares. With the incrreasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the PBA is now looking at playing its games at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City while moving back the planned opener of the 2021 season from 11 April to 18 April.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said representations have already been made with the local government of Rizal and Antipolo City for the possible staging of the games in the province.
Marcial said he is no longer eyeing National Capital Region as a venue for the season with the cases now breaching 5,000 per day, the highest in seven months.
"Sinabihan na kami ng Task Force (IATF) na kausapin ang LGUs. Siyempre, mahihirapan kami sa NCR. Ang tinitignan ko, Antipolo. Nakausap ko na si ex-mayor, ex-governor Junjun Ynares. Nag-uusap na kami. Titignan namin," said Marcial to Spin.ph.
Prior to the pandemic, the Ynares Center is one of regular venues of the PBA outside the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, Mall of Asia Arena, and the Cuneta Astrodome.
Marcial also said holding of the games at the Ynares Center will still need approval from the national government including the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) group of the Department of Health, Games and Amusements Board, and the Philippine Sports Commission which supervises the conduct of sports in the country.
The PBA commissioner said the league is no longer opening on April 11 as they are also seeking approval for the conduct of scrimmages by the teams, similar to that in the bubble where the ballclubs were given a 10-day period.
At the moment, PBA teams are only allowed to practice in batches of five with no scrimmages allowed.
"Hindi na masisimulan ng April 11 kasi kailangan bigyan ko uli sila ng practices. Baka bigyan ko sila, kung papayagan, sa April 5 na magsimula, sana by April 18 makapaglaro na tayo. Sana. 'Yun ang plano," said Marcial.
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