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Beermen, Gins, Hotshots free from COVID-19

The San Miguel Corporation players are cleared from COVID-19. PBA Media Group (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--In a huge breakthrough in hopes of resuming the practices among the PBA teams soon, players from three clubs were all tested negative from COVID-19.

The San Miguel Corporation announced on Tuesday that the players from all its three teams, San Miguel Beer, Ginebra, and Magnolia, are free from the said disease.

“We are happy to report that all of our basketball players tested negative from the virus,” said SMC president and COO Ramon Ang in a statement.

The players were among the first set of employees who underwent polymerase chain reaction testing, the so-called "gold standard" in testing whether someone has COVID-19 or not.

In fact, SMC put up a PCR facility and a laboratory inside its headquarters in Mandaluyong so that its employees may not need to wait for quite some time before finding out if they are clear to work or not.

SMC even donated three sets of PCR and RNA machines to government hospitals and five more to DOH as part of its help in conducting mass testing to those suspected of COVID-19.

"While we all miss the PBA, we need to first create a safe environment to limit the spread of the virus," Ang added.

About how the teams are coping with the pandemic financially, he assured, "Our players and employees have nothing to be worried about as we have assured that they will continue to receive their salaries and health benefits."

Ang also said that health protocols will be strictly implemented to the teams once the PBA clears them to practice again.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno