AN outspoken member of the PBA Board is leaning on staging Season 46 within Metro Manila if and when the league holds another bubble or even a semi-bubble.
Barangay Ginebra Board of Governor Alfrancis Chua said he would like to see the Philippine Cup be played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum or even in a smaller venue especially if fans would still not be allowed to watch, so long as it is in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“Sana sa susunod kung magba-bubble pa, sana gawin sa Araneta na lang, tapos uwian. Kahit wala pang fans. At least nandito tayo sa Metro Manila,” said Chua, who is also sports director of San Miguel Corp.

The set-up the San Miguel official mentioned obviously refers to the closed-circuit system the league is considering for the coming season where teams, players, and coaching staff will go to a strict house-gym-house routine on a daily basis.
The PBA successfully held a two-month bubble conference last year at Clark, Pampanga in which Barangay Ginebra emerged as the new all-Filipino conference champion.
But aside from its remoteness to Metro Manila, the league also had to shell out a massive budget ranging between P65 to P70 million to run the bubble that saw the 500-plus strong delegation billeted at the Quest Plus Hotel in Mimosa and games played at the Angeles University Foundation gym.

Chua said if the league decides to do another full-time bubble, perhaps the PBA contingent could just be quartered in nearby hotels near the Big Dome.
“Ang iniisip ko kasi kung sa Araneta gagawin kahit walang fans, kung papayag silang uwian. Kung hindi naman sila papayag ng uwian, may mga hotels naman na malapit doon, di ba. Sa akin mas maganda yun,” said the Barangay Ginebra governor.
“Or we can look for a venue that’s smaller than Araneta kung hindi pa papayagan yung may tao or fans, at least nasa Metro Manila tayo.”
Before Clark in Pampanga came into the picture, that was the same bubble set-up the league was initially considering, with games to be played at the Big Dome and teams staying at a nearby hotel just walking distance to the playing venue. Teams will be allowed to practice in their respective training facilities which also serves as part of the bubble.
In as much as he appreciates the effort of successfully hosting the Clark bubble, Chua commiserates with the mental stress of players and coaches being away from their respective families.
“Hirap din yung mga teams, e. May mangyari man sa team, may emergency, at least mas malapit. Yun ang tinitingan naming mga governors na puwedeng susunod because it was successful yung first bubble, baka dito kaya rin naming gawin yun,” said the 54-year-old SMC official.
At the same time, Chua believes teams would have a hard time adjusting to playing in another bubble away from Manila after reuniting with their loved ones once again.
“Nakalabas na ulit e, mahihirapan tayong ibalik na ulit sa loob yun. Nakita na nila ulit ang totoong buhay. Yun lang ang concern ko,” he said.
“If we can do it the last time, two conferences bubble, walang labasan at nandun lang sila. Di pa nila nakikita ang labas, baka puwede,” added Chua. “Pero ngayon nakita na nila ang labas, nakita nila ulit ang pamilya nila, tapos sasabihin mo babalik doon, yun ang mahirap.”
The PBA is looking to kick off its new season on April 9 in time for its 46th year anniversary celebration.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph