PBA eyeing Ynares-Antipolo, Ynares-Pasig as possible sites for new PBA season

The Ynares Sports Arena, which has been the home for many amateur basketball events like the PCCL and the PBA D-League, is being eyed as a possible venue for the upcoming PBA Philippine Cup. Nikki Collantes (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—The PBA is now looking at only two arenas as the site for the upcoming Philippine Cup.

Commissioner Willie Marcial said on Wednesday that the league might hold its games at least for the season opening conference at either the Ynares Center in Antipolo or the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The Ynares Center has been in the PBA's plans since the first quarter of the year as it looks to hold its 46th season in a closed circuit format, that is, a strict home-arena-home style of transportation.

Marcial then revealed that the PBA is now considering the smaller Ynares Sports Arena, the main home of the PBA D-League, considering that it is nearer the homes of most of the players than the Ynares Center.

"Kung kami-kami lang, pwede na ang Ynares-Pasig," Marcial said through the PBA website.

However, one major concern about Ynares-Pasig is the lack of dugouts for players.

"We would need to put up tents as dressing areas for the players," he further said.

The PBA would need to get clearances from the provincial government of Rizal, which manages the Ynares Sports Arena despite it being under Metro Manila, and the Pasig city government should it push with holding the games there.

But first things first: the league will wait for the next quarantine classification for Metro Manila and Rizal, which are both part of the NCR Plus area.

The Inter-Agency Task Force is expected to announce the COVID-19 quarantine status of NCR Plus by June 15.

Currently, NCR Plus is under the heightened general community quarantine, that is, some restrictions have still been in place like the closure of indoor practice courts, which is forcing many team to go on the road to places under the classic or even the modified GCQ just to train.

"We'll discuss the finer details of plans after June 15," said Marcial.

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