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    Coaches confident PBA 'bubble' can ensure safety of players

    Coaches say it's up to the teams to keep environment safe in PBA bubble
    Jul 10, 2020

    PBA coaches expressed satisfaction with the health protocols that the league plans to put in place for the resumption of team training amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

    After being briefed of the plan in a meeting with Commissioner Willie Marcial and other top officials, Meralco coach Norman Black felt the league is ready to create a safe environment that will allow the resumption of training - and hopefully the season.

    The target dates for the restart of practices by small batches are either July 20 or 22.

    “I thought it was a very productive meeting today,” Black said at the end of the meeting attended by coaches and team managers of the league's 12 ballclubs.

    “We were able to set the dates of either July 20 or 22 as our start date for us to return to practice. The commissioner and his staff did a good job of explaining the protocols and guidelines for us to follow so we can create a safe environment for everyone involved.”

    Marcial said the league is set to hold a board meeting on Saturday to tackle 'a few kinks' that were raised by the coaches.

    “There were a few kinks the Commissioner wanted to iron out in his meeting with the board of governors tomorrow, but it looks like it’s all systems go,” said Black.

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    Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone also believed the PBA was able to ensure the safety of the players and the coaches, and it is now their responsibility to keep the environment safe.

    Under the plan, players and coaches will be under a “closed circuit” concept in which they are not allowed to travel to other places aside from their home and practice facility during the entire training session.

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    “I thought everything was logical and well laid-out,” said Cone. “It will now be up to us coaches and players to strictly implement what was presented and prove that we are ready for the next step which is group practices.”

    Even with the positive feedback from coaches, Marcial said there are still a lot to be discussed as to the resumption of practices.

    For one, the PBA has yet to receive the document bearing IATF Resolution 51 that set the guidelines for the return to training of the pro league as well as the Philippines Football League (PFL).

    “Marami pang topics bukas. Wala pa sa amin ‘yung final approval kaya marami pa kaming pag-uusapan sa board,” said Marcial.

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      Alaska coach Jeff Cariaso agreed with Cone that the ball is now in the teams' court.

      “I think we are on the right track with preparing the strict protocols needed to resume first to small group workouts," he said. "Guidelines are clear. Now the challenge is for strict execution of these measures to ensure the protection of our players, coaches, and all our families."

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      Blackwater coach Nash Racela, meanwhile, thinks the league should also continuously find ways to improve the protocols during the implementation stage.

      “Continuous dapat ang improvement ng protocols depending on what we experience once we resume,” said Racela.

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