PBA player tested positive for COVID-19

A player who was in action in the Blackwater-TNT game on Thursday night was tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the league to isolate both teams for the meantime. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--The last thing one is expecting from the PBA bubble is a player testing positive for COVID-19.

On Sunday, however, the fear was confirmed.

In a press conference, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, Bases Conversion Development Authority chief Vince Dizon, and renowned sports doctor George Canlas bared the sad news that a baller has indeed contracted COVID-19 following the release of his swab test result on Saturday night.

"Yung ating PBA player na may lumabas na positive result kagabi, na-isolate na. We're asking the PBA to conduct an antigen and RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) for the player who tested positive," Dizon said.

Marcial, on the other hand, did not disclose who the player is, but he hinted that he is from Blackwater.

"Pina-isolate nila Sec. Vince ang buong team ng Blackwater. Pati yung kalaban (TNT) kasi close contacts sila," he said.

Canlas then chimed in, saying, "We're going to test the player today. The other players, we cannot test them right now with RT-PCR because it is too early. But we will test them using antigen in the coming days."

The Elite and the Tropang Giga played on Thursday night with the latter prevailing.

Blackwater, along with Alaska, requested for a swab testing after making contact with the referee who was initially declared as a suspected COVID-19 case.

However, the said official was tested negative for COVID-19 at the release of his latest swab test, somehow confirming an earlier conjecture that his initial swab test result was a "false positive".

"Kailangan intindihin natin na walang perfect na test, pwedeng magkamali. Ang importante, meron tayong protocol para i-address ang situation na ganito," Dizon further said.

As a precaution, the Elite's scheduled game later Sunday against the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters has been postponed to a later date.

But Marcial assured, "Tuloy ang Manila Clasico," pertaining to the other game on Sunday night pitting Ginebra and Magnolia.

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