PBA losing P30-M per month as season remains suspended amid COVID-19 threat

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is no exception to the businesses affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In an online forum with the Philippine Sportswriters Association, league commissioner Willie Marcial said the PBA office loses around P30 million a month since it halted its operations.

"Sobrang naapektuhan ang PBA. Parang lahat ng negosyo naapektuhan. Parang mapipilayan, ganun din ang nararamdaman ng PBA," he said.

"Ang mawawala sa 'min gate receipts, television, sponsorship, at patuloy pa rin kami nagbabayad sa mga tao namin," he added.

Season 45 has barely opened and only one game has been played before the league suspended games indefinitely on March 11.

"Wala kaming magagawa. Sakripisyo talaga 'yun. Wala kaming sinisi," Marcial said.

The commissioner said they are looking forward to the return of the league, even though the PBA's earnings will not be the same as before.

"Di na tayo sa earnings. Ang ano lang, makalaro tayo, makapagbigay-ligaya sa fans. Pag nakapaglaro ang PBA, parang ito na yung pag-asa," he said.

"Sa atin, parang nagbibigay tayo ng pag-asa sa lahat, di lang sa sports. Makapagbigay tayo ng saya kasi maraming nananabik sa basketball," he added.

The PBA has submitted safety protocols to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for a possible return to basketball activities.

If the league gets the green light, deputy commissioner Eric Castro said they will continue the format of the Philippine Cup. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News