SAN Miguel Alab Pilipinas coach Jimmy Alapag couldn't hide his disappointment over the Asean Basketball League stoppage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"As a coach, you train for four to five months, and then the virus comes, parang wala na," he said.
The Philippine side was one of the top teams midway through the eliminations, sitting at second place with a 10-6 win-loss record.
Things seemed to getting better for Alab after a rollercoaster start, getting a boost from import changes. Justin Brownlee and John Fields were brought in but unfortunately were not able to wear their Alab threads altogether.
The ABL indefinitely suspended the season on March 13.
Obviously, it was a huge snag for Alab, which is looking to reclaim the throne behind the leadership of top playmaker Jason Brickman and mainstay Lawrence Domingo.
The team has since sent its reinforcements, as well as its Fil-foreigners, back home.
"It's tough, especially for us who are getting ready for playoffs and we just got Justin Brownlee and John Fields," lamented Alapag.
But he understood that in this time of crisis, everyone's safety gets put in a premium.
"What can you do? Safety first," he said.
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