THE Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has accepted the apology of Blackwater for its unsanctioned practice ahead of the formal resumption of training by the PBA.
GAB chairman Baham Mitra said Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy personally apologized to the government agency following a meeting on Monday, but made it clear Elite will not be spared of a sanction.
Mitra said the GAB will meet as a collegial body in order to discuss the possible sanction.
“Commissioner Edward Trinidad and I have met with Mr. Sy. We have accepted their apology but the Board needs to study further their reply to our letter if we will sanction or fine them as Commissioner Mar Masanguid is still in Davao. They promised to adhere to all the rules and safety standards as well as the directives of the IATF and GAB,” said Mitra.
Blackwater explained its side to the GAB on Tuesday after Sy made a statement that the Elite were already training in preparation for the return to practice of the PBA teams.
However, the GAB rued that Blackwater’s move is still in violation of the government’s protocols in the fight against COVID-19 as the resolution that allows professional teams in basketball and football to resume have yet to be released.
The PBA has already sanctioned Blackwater with a P100,000 and required its players to undergo swab tests and a mandatory seven-day quarantine.
“We have also asked them to wait for the IATF resolution and GAB-PSC-DOH Joint Administrative Order before any practice so as not to jeopardize our efforts to resume leagues practice,” said Mitra.
“A stern warning maybe issued by GAB to Blackwater to refrain from any practice in the meantime that the order has not yet come out. This was the same statement that GAB made to the Philippine Football League.”
Sy said he will respect the decision of GAB on the incident.
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