THE Games and Amusements Board (GAB) is looking at sanctioning Blackwater for holding training sessions ahead of the PBA’s return to practice.
GAB chairman Baham Mitra said that even though the Inter-Agency Task Force has already cleared the PBA teams' return to practice, it has yet to release IATF Resolution 51 containing the guidelines on how teams should conduct training.
The PBA is setting a date of either July 20 or 22 for teams to resume practice in the hope of resuming its mothballed 2020 season.
“The JAO (Joint Adminstrative Order) of GAB, PSC (Philippine Sports Commission), DOH (Department of Health) plus the IATF has not yet come out [with the resolution] and they violated the restrictions,” Mitra said.
“They will be dealt with separately by the PBA and GAB. Possible fines and suspensions will be issued,” he added.
Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy told Cignal's Sports Page program that the Elite are now conducting workouts that align to the PBA’s protocols of training per batch of six – four players, one coach or trainer, and one safety officer.
Still, Mitra said Blackwater committed a violation even though it followed the health protocols of the PBA.
“They violated the Omnibus guidelines of the IATF on safety protocols,” Mitra said.
The PBA has now asked Blackwater to explain its side on holding workouts before the formal resumption of practices.
GAB is also doing the same.
“We will be writing Blackwater a letter or a show cause order to give due process. It will be in a form of a letter addressed to the owner,” said Mitra.