THERE is going to be a PBA bubble.
Whether it will be in the form of an NBA-type bubble or the Bundesliga version will be decided when the league board convenes on Friday to chart the path the PBA will take once it resumes its season.
Commissioner Willie Marcial is going to preside over what he expects to be a day-long meeting with the entire board led by chairman Ricky Vargas.
“Ilalatag natin 'yun lahat,” said Marcial on the eve of the meeting.
“Ipe-present namin yung iba’t ibang (form) ng bubble. Meron yung sa NBA na semi-bubble yung hotel to venue. At yung pangalawa, yung Bundesliga, yung ginagawa natin ngayon (sa workouts), yung home-gym-home na ok naman. So lahat yung ipapakita natin.”
Also to be discussed are the possible venues for the resumption of the Philippine Cup and the hotel locations. As of Thursday, according to the commissioner, his office has already received 20 propositions and quotes from various hotels around Metro Manila and other provinces.
“Nakakatuwa naman dahil ang daming gustong makatulong. At least mapo-promote na natin ang PBA, mapo-promote pa rin natin yung turismo (sa bansa),” Marcial said.
As of now, six venues including the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, are being considered by the league for games as it targets an Oct. 9 restart to the All-Filipino conference.
Also in the Commissioner’s Office list are the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, New Clark City in Pampanga, Batangas City, and El Nido in Palawan.
Marcial will be helped in the presentation by deputy commissioner Eric Castro and Dr. Raul Canlas, the renowned orthopedic surgeon who heads the PBA medical committee in-charge of crafting health standards and safety protocols adopted by the league during its non-scrimmage workouts.
“Andun din si Doc. Canlas, ipe-present niya yung iba niyang protocols at other suggestions sa bubble,” said the commissioner.
Other agenda included in the board meeting is the conference format and the budget it would entail the league should an NBA-type bubble is approved.
“Iba’t ibang format ang ipi-present namin,” said Marcial, who is eyeing to hold a compact season to be held inside two months.
At the moment, the league already has a pending request before the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) to finally allow scrimmages among teams hopefully by Sept. 16.
Team workouts in small groups been ongoing since August 25.
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