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GAB to meet with 'semi-pro' leagues about practice protocols

The PSL is among the leagues GAB summoned for a consultation later Thursday. Nikki Collantes (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--GAB chairman Baham Mitra revealed that his office will meet with the leagues that are not covered by the approved IATF guidelines for professional team practices so that they can map out their own protocols for them to resume their member teams' own training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the online Usapang Sports forum by the Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports on Thursday, Mitra said that representatives from MPBL, PSL, Spikers' Turf, and PVL, leagues functioning as pros but are not sanctioned by GAB, will come to his office for a consultation with the IATF regarding the resumption of their games.

"Mamaya, merong consultation yung IATF technical working group, PSC, GAB, at saka DOH. It will be chaired by the DOH. In-invite na yung volleyball at MPBL," Mitra described the meeting set at 2 p.m.

The said consultation stemmed from the limits of the resumption of practices, in which only the PBA, PFL, and the Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas 3x3 are allowed to have their member teams resume their training.

"Akala nilang lahat, kasama sila doon, pero noong sinabi na PFL lang at saka PBA, nagulat sila," Mitra bared how the so-called "semi-pro" leagues reacted to the approved protocols. "Sabi namin, 'Kung meron kayong ma-submit na maayos na protocol, eh di OK na.'"

Despite the GAB invitation, Mitra said that he will let the PVL, PSL, and MPBL make their discretion if they want to become full fledged pro.

"It's really up to them," he further said, adding that he remains puzzled why these leagues are still not submitting themselves to GAB sanctions.

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