IATF approves July 16 PBA start says GAB chief

See you next Friday, PBA fans! PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Matutuloy na ang laban!

The Inter-Agency Task Force has approved the PBA's request to begin its 46th season on July 16.

Games and Amusements Board chairman Baham Mitra, whose office oversees the professional sports scene like the current happenings in the PBA, confirmed the development on Friday in an online press conference.

"The IATF has already approved the resumption of the PBA in their meeting yesterday," Mitra said.

The games will be played at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig under a closed circuit format, that is, players and officials will strictly follow a home-arena-home transportation format.

Like last season's bubble in Angeles, the matches will be placed behind closed doors.

Pasig is currently under the general community quarantine with some restrictions, which based on the joint administrative order cannot host a pro league game as it only allows games to be played in a modified GCQ area.

On how the PBA has been cleared, Mitra bared, "The PBA went directly to the IATF."

However, he also said that he, being a member of the technical working group for the JAO, requested for the approval of the PBA season setup.

Mitra also said that GAB and the Department of Health will sit down with the PBA regarding the protocols to be put up.

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