So far, so good in PBA training

MANILA, Philippines — PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro is closely monitoring the restart of training in limited batches of four players each with no contact in the gym and gave his thumps up yesterday in reporting smooth sailing since teams were allowed to conduct individual workouts last week.

Castro has assigned supervisor of officials Bong Pascual and operations man Niel Tibajares to personally visit each team in unannounced inspections. Pascual and Tibajares go their separate ways, averaging three inspections a day each. When they reach a practice site, the inspectors link up with Castro and GAB medical officers via video calls.

Castro identified the practice sites as the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna for TNT, Upper Deck in Pasig for Phoenix and Barangay Ginebra, Acropolis gym for San Miguel Beer, Meralco gym for Meralco, FCL Sports Center on Xavierville Avenue, Quezon City for NLEX, the Azure Urban Resort and Residences gym in Bicutan for Terra Firma (formerly Columbian), Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong for Alaska, Aero Center gym on Quezon Avenue for Blackwater, RONAC gym on Ortigas Avenue for Magnolia, Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong for Rain or Shine and Green Meadows gym for NorthPort.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said it’s been “so far, so good” in the training restart. He cited Phoenix’ suspension of coach Louie Alas for violating health protocols during a recent practice as an example of a team policing its own ranks without intervention from the PBA. Marcial said the PBA came up with strict safety/health protocols, including a closed-circuit route from home-to-gym-to-home, and instituted hospital-standard sanitization procedures to make sure every team is exposed to zero risk of infection.

The PBA protocols impressed GAB chairman Baham Mitra that he has invited officials to brief the CHED and media on the league’s best practices this afternoon. Mitra also requested representatives from the Chooks to Go 3x3 league and the Philippines Football League to share their best practices at the same meeting. This is in preparation for the possible restart of sports training at the collegiate level. “I’m confident that the pros would be willing to share what they’re doing because after all, it’s one industry and everyone is concerned with each other,” said Mitra. “If an accident happens to one, the whole group is affected. We appreciate their efforts in investing time and resources to comply with the Joint Administrative Order and we’d like them to showcase it so others may appreciate and emulate.”

With the conduct of limited workouts in full swing, Marcial said he plans to request the IATF this week for clearance to begin 5-on-5 scrimmages. Since the practices are proceeding without hitches, Marcial said the PBA is ready with a proposal to expand the training to scrimmages under strict health/safety conditions.