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As lockdown looms, PBA postpones games

TNT and Phoenix were supposed to play on Wednesday prior to the postponement of games. PBA Images (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--As Metro Manila is set to be placed under a hard lockdown starting this weekend, the PBA has decided to call off its games for the meantime.

The league announced on Tuesday that all the games that have not yet played in the PBA Philippine Cup will be postponed.

While the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila would only begin by Friday, the PBA said that even the scheduled triple-header on Wednesday will not push through.

"The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is temporarily suspending its Philippine Cup games starting August 4, Wednesday in support of the government's directive in addressing the unwanted rise of COVID-19 Delta variant infections," the league said in a statement.

TNT was scheduled to face Blackwater in the curtain raiser at 12:30 p.m., NLEX was supposed to battle Meralco in the second game at 3 p.m., and Phoenix was supposed to take on Terrafirma in the nightcap at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, the PBA confirmed that it is now eyeing Lipa as the venue for the continuation of the season opening conference while Metro Manila remains under lockdown.

"The league is waiting for the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF EID) decision regarding its request to temporarily transfer and continue its games in Lipa, Batangas as NCR will be under ECQ, the strictest quarantine status, from August 6 to 20," the PBA further stated.

The PBA did not disclose where it would hold games if it gets the IATF-EID approval, but Lipa is known for its Sentrum La Salle inside the De La Salle University campus there, which became the home of the MBA's Batangas Blades, a temporary home of the MPBL's Batangas City Athletics, and a venue for PSL games as well.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno

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