COMMISSIONER Willie Marcial described as a great idea Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Chairman Ricky Vargas’s proposal for a Philippines-China duel—an exhibition matchup aimed at helping quell tensions over the West Philippine Sea.
But what bothers Marcial is how to execute the duel, which, according to Vargas, could be a best-of-seven series under a potential home-and-away format.
“It’s a great idea, beautiful,” Marcial told BusinessMirror on Tuesday. “But there are crucial matters to consider if we want to execute the idea.”
First, Marcial said, it’s not only the PBA and China which should be involved, but also the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the governing body for the sport in the country.
“Second, how do we form the team and when do we schedule the game or games,” he added.
Vargas announced in a statement on Friday—Araw ng Kagitingan—that he wanted a Philippines-China basketball duel, saying the friendly could help ease tension on the disputed waters both countries lay claim to.
The TNT Tropang Giga governor picked Yeng Guiao of NLEX, one of three teams in the league that are under the Manuel V. Pangilinan group, as head coach of the PBA selection. Guiao readily accepted the offer.
The PBA board, Marcial said, will be the key in the execution of Vargas’s proposal. The board meets on Monday to tackle crucial issues concerning the opening of the league’s 46th season that was shuttered by the imposition of strict quarantines.
“We will discuss the league’s financial status and our plan of having a two-conference season this year,” Marcial said.
The league is supposed to open on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City, but was shelved because of the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), which was eased to a modified ECQ for the rest of April.
Also on the table is the governors’ discussion on vaccines for the PBA family.