Willie Marcial says COVID-19 case a 'wake-up call' for PBA bubble

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the positive result of a referee for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) serves a reminder to delegates inside the bubble to be extra cautious in their actions.

"Sinabi ko na sa players, staff, referees, at sa mga table [officials] kanina, wake-up call sa atin 'to. Huwag tayo masyadong relaxed," Marcial said in a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

"Totoo, nasa bubble tayo pero ganoon pa rin, kailangan sundin natin ang protocols—mask, shield, alcohol, linis ng katawan, ganun pa rin," he added.

For his part, the commissioner said he himself will also remind the delegates to be more careful.

"Palagay ko, wake-up call sa atin na kailangan mag-ingat," said Marcial. "Ngayon, ako na mismo ang magpo-police para sa kanila," he said.

READ: Yeng Guiao on COVID-19 case inside PBA bubble: 'Nagtataka ako paano nakapasok sa higpit ng protocol natin'

Marcial also said the possibility of canceling the games is not yet being considered.

"Derecho pa rin tayo. Huwag sana maraming maapektuhan," he said.

He said the league is hoping that the result of the referee's swab test is a false positive, as he later tested negative on an antigen test.

However, the Department of Health said an RT-PCR swab test is needed to confirm a negative result from an antigen test, and not the other way around.

The referee is now being quarantined, while his close contacts are already isolated.

The league said stricter measures will also be imposed inside the bubble and the playing venue. —MGP, GMA News