PBA teams can resume workouts by August 25, eyes September for scrimmages

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) said teams can start their conditioning and workouts starting Tuesday, as long as players test negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to a report published on the PBA website Saturday, aside from the required COVID-19 testing, teams must also adhere to the health protocols laid out in the Joint Administrative Order issued by the Department of Health, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Disease (IATF), and the Games and Amusement Board. 

The PBA also plans to write another letter to the IATF regarding the conduct of team scrimmages by September.

"Sana payagan din tayo, pero lahat na iyan siguro depende kung nasaan na tayo dito sa (COVID-19) virus," PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said in the report.

"Kung tumataas pa rin ang mga kaso nand'yan pa rin posibilidad na tumaas ulit ang quarantine level. Pero kung steady lang ang number o mas maganda, bumaba, malamang payagan tayo. Sana," the league commissioner added.

In a previous interview, Marcial said he hopes the league can restart the games by October.

The PBA had a slight delay in returning to practice since Metro Manila was put back on modified enhanced community quarantine last August 3.

On August 17, President Rodrigo Duterte approved IATF's recommendation to put Metro Manila and other provinces back to general community quarantine. —KG, GMA News