PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. reminded basketball enthusiasts that all public or private playing courts should remain closed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Basketball—a contact sport—is still not allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force [IATF] for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in areas under GCQ [general community quarantine] so public and private basketball courts should not be allowed to operate as of this moment,” Roque told BusinessMirror on Thursday.
BusinessMirror learned that several private indoor courts in Metro Manila, particularly in Marikina City and Paco in Manila, have opened their doors to clandestine games whose participants include players from the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The gyms, BusinessMirror found out, allow no more than 15 players for each game. It wasn’t clear, however, if the gym owners or operators disinfect the facilities.
If caught, Roque said they would be apprehended and fined based on local government unit ordinances.
Roque stressed that only the Philippine Basketball Associaton, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 and the National Basketball League were allowed to play in bubble facilities.
It could be recalled that in July, Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar and Rain or Shine’s Adrian Wong and Gilas cadets Isaac Go and Thirdy Ravena were caught on video playing a 5-on-5 game at the Ronac Gym in Greenhills, San Juan City.
The PBA fined Aguilar and Wong P20,000 each, while Go and Ravena were issued warnings by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Also in July, the PBA fined Blackwater owner Dioceldo Sy for holding an unauthorized collective team training.
1 comment