BASES Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Vince Dizon sought the understanding of players, coaches and officials on the third cancellation of games in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup inside the Clark bubble.
Dizon, also the deputy chief implementer of the government’s response against Covid-19—told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday that the postponement of the Magnolia-Blackwater match on Wednesday at the Angeles University Foundation gym in Pampanga involves the “safety and well-being of all the individuals there.”
“This is for the protection of everyone in the bubble,” said Dizon, adding they are still awaiting the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases based on an advice from the Department of Health (DOH) for the resumption of Blackwater’s games.
Also postponed were the Rain or Shine-Blackwater game last Sunday and the TNT Tropang Giga-Northport match last Monday. These were prompted by a referee and a Blackwater player initially testing positive of contracting the virus last week, only to turn in negative results after further tests.
“We’re just awaiting for the approval of the IATF for the resumption of the Blackwater games. We are expecting the decision from IATF tomorrow,” Dizon said as he reiterated that the bubble remains intact because the referee and player eventually tested negative.
The player and referee, Dizon said, are undergoing 10 days of quarantine at the Athletes’ Village of the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr., meanwhile, said Malacañang is all out in supporting the PBA bubble.
“We supported them all the way. That’s just only a minor setback. They were all negative,” Roque said. “After all, they were just isolated because of a close contact.”
Blackwater Team Manager Jacob Muñez said in separate interview they were “a little bit confused” on what’s going on and for Elite Coach Raoul Cesar “Nash” Racela, life goes on for the team despite of the situation that disrupted their training and focus on their games.
“To be honest, it’s not an easy week for us. Aside from the game preparations, we’re now concerned with health issues,” Racela told BusinessMirror.
The Elite, who are sporting a 2-3 win-loss record, needed to be isolated together with the TNT Tropang Giga, whom they played last Thursday. The Tropang Giga were already tested negative last week.
Calvin Abueva and Phoenix Super LPG (4-2), meanwhile, meet Alaska (4-3) at 4 p.m. followed by the TNT Tropang Giga (5-0)-Northern Luzon Expressway (1-5) game at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday.