As MM goes back to GCQ, PBA teams set to resume practices

PBA teams can resume their practices by next week the soonest. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--After an extended wait, PBA teams can now resume their training sessions as President Rodrigo Duterte placed Metro Manila back to the general community quarantine starting on Wednesday.

With that said, the league has already set the new dates for the players to undergo mandatory swab testing.

The players will have their swab testing on Thursday and Friday in various locations.

The San Miguel Corporation teams will do their swab tests at the company's main office in Mandaluyong.

On the other hand, the remaining nine teams will have theirs at the Makati Medical Center.

Only those tested negative for COVID-19 can resume their practices although at a limited capacity for the meantime.

"Pag walang problema ang resulta ng test, they're free to start their training. They would have the go-signal to do so but they have to follow our guidelines and protocols," said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on Tuesday.

With the metropolis back in GCQ, Marcial hopes that the pandemic will ease up further so that the league can resume play by October.

"Kung magtuloy-tuloy ang sitwasyon at makapag-scrimmage na ang mga teams, and then kung mapunta ang NCR (National Capital Region) sa MGCQ (modified GCQ), pwede tayong matuloy sa October," he further said.

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