Batangas City agrees to host practices of PBA teams
The PBA took a big leap in its quest to start Season 46 as soon as possible after the City of Batangas agreed to host team practices.
Commissioner Willie Marcial bared the latest development after league officials met with Batangas City Mayor Beverly Dimacuha and Fifth District Rep. Marvey Mariño on Saturday.
The local government has identified Batangas City Coliseum and Batangas State University Gym as possible venues for the training sessions while the Lyceum-Batangas Gym is also a being considered.
Marcial disclosed that he will meet with local government officials again next week to discuss the protocols for the resumption of practices.
“Nakausap ko si Mayor Beverley Dimacuha at si Congressman Marvey Mariño at okay naman makapag-practice doon. Pupunta ang team namin doon at yung team nila, mag-uusap para sa mga protocols at paano ang disinfection sa Friday,” stressed Marcial.
“Lilinisin pa nila yung mga gyms so by next, next week pwede na pero kausap ko rin si Chairman Mitra, suporta naman sila pero depende kung anong ‘CQ’ (community quarantine),” he added.
Since Batangas City is under General Community Quarantine (GCQ), only practices in small groups are allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Scrimmages and full practices can only proceed if the province shifts to the more lenient MGQC after May 15.
“We’ll have to wait for Batangas to go into Modified GCQ (MGCQ) so that teams can begin scrimmages. We’ll also wait and see if the IATF grants us an exception and allows us to practice before MGCQ,” said Marcial.