ASEAN Basketball League cancels season due to COVID-19 pandemic

The ASEAN Basketball League has canceled its season due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement on Wednesday, the league said "there is no safe way to complete the remaining fixtures" after suspending its games since March 13.

The ABL explored a shortened season as one of its options, but border closures and other containment measures hinder the league from completing the season.

"We will now turn our efforts into planning for the next ASEAN Basketball League season in 2021 and hope to make announcements on the 11th ABL Season after completing consultations among the teams," the statement read.

Other sports leagues similarly affected by the pandemic include the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which both pulled the plug on the remainder of their seasons.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), meanwhile, remains hopeful that it can resume the conference after the government allowed players to return to practice subject to health protocols.

The National Basketball Association (NBA), for its part, has implemented a "bubble concept" to restart its season. Twenty-two teams will play in Orlando starting July 30. —MGP, GMA News