CLARK FREEPORT – Maverick Ahanmisi will be the last player to enter the PBA bubble.
The Alaska guard won’t be able to see action at least in the team’s first three games in the Philippine Cup as he won't be arriving from the U.S. until next week yet.
The Aces will open the season restart this Sunday against the TnT Tropang Giga in the 4 p.m. curtain raiser at the Angeles University Foundation gym.
Coach Jeff Cariaso said the Fil-Am playmaker will have his scheduled pre-bubble swab testing by Monday.
“We hope to get him here as soon as he’s allowed,” said the mild-mannered mentor on Thursday. “There’s a five-day quarantine after the test so hopefully, he’s here on the 17th-18th.”
Upon entering the bubble, Ahanmisi, 29, will still need to undergo another swab testing procedure and stay in room isolation for two more days.
Going by that time frame, the earliest Ahanmisi can play for the Aces will be either against Blackwater (Oct. 20) or Rain or Shine (Oct. 22).
Aside from the TnT match, he’ll likely miss the games against Meralco (Oct. 14) and Magnolia (Oct. 17).
Initially, the PBA set an Oct. 10 deadline for all latecomers to enter the bubble or else they forfeit their right to play this season.
But the league board decided to relax the rules and allowed all players to enter the bubble at any given time, provided they are included in their team’s official 15-man roster and undergo the mandatory health protocols.
Barangay Ginebra players LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar were the two latest players to go inside the bubble. Tenorio arrived on Wednesday, while Aguilar followed on Thursday.
Both are now observing isolation in their hotel rooms at Quest Hotel.
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