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| The MPBL may wrap up its third season inside a bubble. MPBL (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA—MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes bared on Tuesday that his league may go bubble mode just to finish up the Lakan Season playoffs.
"Tinitignan namin ang PBA 'coz they have to lead us," the PBA legend said in the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
The PBA is keen on resuming its own season via the bubble with a players' meeting scheduled on Wednesday and the board of governors meeting set on Thursday to shape up what kind of bubble will take place.
Duremdes added that the MPBL will monitor the planned PBA bubble to see if it will become successful so that the regional league can set up one of its own.
The MPBL announced its indefinite suspension of games amid the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, a day after Makati and Davao Occidental sent the two division finals against San Juan and Basilan respectively to sudden death.
With only the rubber matches and the best-of-five national finals yet to be played, Duremdes said that setting up a bubble should be "easy for us."
"Mas madali siyang i-control, but kailangan pa rin ng safety protocols," he added.
On the venue of the MPBL bubble, Duremdes bared that the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, an undisclosed location in Subic, and even Former President Erap Estrada's resthouse in Tanay are among those being considered.
Following the denial of ABSCBN's request for a new broadcasting franchise, Duremdes said that the remainder of the Lakan Season will only be streamed live in the MPBL's Facebook page.
Only the PBA, Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas 3x3, and NBL, all under the Games and Amusements Board's sanction as de jure professional leagues, may be allowed to resume action soon amid the pandemic pending the approvals from the Inter-Agency Task Force.
However, Duremdes said that the MPBL is just awaiting for the go signal from the IATF for the resumption of practice among teams from non-GAB sanctioned leagues, which could happen anytime soon.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno_
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