Clark bubble a challenge and opportunity

MANILA, Philippines —  The Clark bubble came from an idea ventilated by NLEX coach Yeng Guiao. And the concept will become a reality when the PBA restarts its 45th season on October 11. Bases Conversion and Development Authority CEO/president, presidential adviser for flagship programs and chief testing czar of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 secretary Vince Dizon said yesterday creating the bubble is both a challenge and opportunity to show a model of success living under the new normal in this pandemic.

“First of all, the idea started from coach Yeng,” said Dizon. “He came out in public advocating Clark to host a bubble. It was the first time we heard of it at our level in the national task force. I spoke to our team at Clark and asked if we could do it. We wanted to pull it off, to grapple with the problem moving forward and show a semblance of normalcy despite COVID-19. We don’t know how long this pandemic will last but if we have to, we’ll live with it. That’s why it’s important to make sure this is a success. Our motivation is to prove we can do this, that we can develop models of success all over the country.”

Dizon said security will be strict to guarantee the safety of everyone inside the 200-hectare Mimosa Leisure Estate bubble in Clark where the four-star Quest Hotel Plus Conference Center is located. The entire estate will be exclusively open to the PBA and no outsider will be accommodated in the hotel. “Clark has its own police force and Mimosa, too,” said Dizon. “PNP Region III will assist to make sure everything is in order. The Angeles University Foundation gym will be an extension of the Clark bubble and connected via a virtual tunnel. Buses will take the teams from the hotel to the gym, point to point without any stops in between. We’re mobilizing about 30 tourist buses and they’ll be totally sanitized with drivers also subject to our health protocols.”

Dizon said the AUF gym has two levels, one is for practice and the other is the main court for competition. “We’re exploring the possibility of converting the hotel ballroom into a training facility and putting up a tent in the estate as an additional training facility,” he said. “Fans will not be allowed in the bubble and at the start, families of players will also not be allowed. We will not compromise our protocols especially in the beginning. As the season progresses and teams are eliminated, maybe we’ll discuss with the PBA the possibility of allowing families inside the bubble like in the NBA. We can make adjustments along the way. It could be an option.”

Dizon said a medical team will be assigned in the estate on a 24/7 basis. “The Medical City in Clark is less than 10 minutes away from the estate so its facilities will be available if necessary at any time,” he said. “We’ll have standby ambulances. In the estate, there are two golf courses. Right now, the plan is to open up the courses for the PBA’s use on Mondays but we may do more days as we go along and even allow access to four other golf courses in Clark, depending on protocols and health standards. We’ll provide golf carts, bicycles and ATVs because the estate is huge and when there is basketball downtime, players may want to explore trails.”

Dizon said contact tracing will be strictly enforced with the command center updated on the movements of everyone in the bubble using the staysafe.ph downloadable app as approved by the IATF. “By November, we might get improved testing technology where the turnaround time for results is much quicker so it will be less of a hassle,” he said. PBA teams will begin to enter the bubble Monday and Tuesday after undergoing PCR swab testing and five days of home quarantine. Once in Clark, there will be another PCR testing and hotel quarantine until results arrive. Scrimmages may start on October 1 as players get ready for the games reeling off on October 11.