PBA clubs push restart button

MANILA, Philippines — PBA teams are raring to get off the starting block for the pro league’s much-awaited return to small-group practices.

Barring any hitches, the long inactive ballclubs should finally be holding non-scrimmage physical conditioning sessions beginning today on batches of five and under strict health guidelines.

“The team is ready and excited to resume training. We’ve made all the necessary preparations to start Tuesday (today),” Meralco team manager Paolo Trillo told The STAR.

“We’re on schedule. We discussed and reviewed our plans again last Sunday and we’re confident all the requirements are met and all steps in our planned practice flow will be observed,” San Miguel counterpart Gee Abanilla said.

For the TNT KaTropa, the plan is to go on a “bubble” in a training camp at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna for two or three weeks.

“TNT KaTropa are excited and looking forward to practicing again,” said team manager Gabby Cui.

“We will strictly enforce PBA and IATF guidelines to ensure safety for our team during our training camp,” he added.

The quintets underwent mandatory PCR testing last week as part of the requirements for the twice-delayed return to practice.

They also made sure they’re booked at a training venue for their exclusive use and armed with a certified “hospital-standard sanitation procedure.”

The PBA will be implementing a “closed circuit” method in which the teams will follow a home-gym-home routine.

League commissioner Willie Marcial said the training resumption augurs well for the PBA’s restart plans by October.

“We’re hoping this will go smoothly all the way to games’ resumption,” he said.