THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will penalize players who will violate health protocols covering the league’s return-to-training scheme amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was stressed by Commissioner Willie Marcial on Tuesday, saying the PBA Board approved of the penalties during its virtual meeting over the weekend.
Marcial said the punishment—which starts with a minimum fine of P5,000—is a way to ensure that guidelines would be strictly followed under the league’s “closed circuit concept” of health protocols.
“For the players, it’s strictly ‘home, car, gym. They shouldn’t deviate from that concept,” Marcial told the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum webcast.
“If a player couldn’t help it but go to the supermarket for errands, because nobody else could do that in his household, he must inform the league—because we keep a log of the players’ movement. Discipline is key here,” Marcial added.
Teams will begin training in clusters starting on July 22 after the Inter-Agency Task Force relaxed protocols in basketball.
A first offense corresponds to a P5,000 with the penalty doubling depending to the number of times a player commits more violations. The policy, Marcial explained, also covers individual workout.
Marcial said violating protocols during practice command more stringent penalties that could be as much as P20,000.
“The penalty is higher in team practice. Even the team’s designated health officers could be penalized if he violates the rules,” Marcial said in the forum presented by San Miguel Beer, Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and powered by Smart.
“Mas malaki yung fine kapag nilabag mo yung protocols doon sa practices.”
Only four players, a coach or trainer and a safety officer would be allowed inside the training facility once team workout begins. Training by teams will be done in batches.
Players, coaches and team staff are required to undergo swab testing at the San Miguel Corp. facility.
