With league still on hold, PBA says vaccination at top of priority list

Vaccination will be the Philippine Basketball Association's (PBA) top priority as they plan out the next steps for the league on the road to opening its new season.

"The first order of the day, as discussed in the board, will be for the whole PBA family to be vaccinated," PBA vice-chair Bobby Rosales said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday.

"Why do we say that it is the first order of the day? Because we believe if everybody has been vaccinated, then it might be easier for, let's say, the government through the (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases), to allow the season to open. But of course we're awaiting what other protocols the IATF will ask of the PBA, even if everybody has been vaccinated."

Rosales, who also serves as Terrafirma’s team governor, does not believe vaccine supply will be a problem, especially as the business conglomerates owning the teams in the league have committed to providing vaccines for the league.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial is also making arrangements with the Philippine Red Cross for additional supply.

The question, he said, is really a matter of how soon this can be done.

He also added that a vaccinated league would give the PBA more options, particularly with regards to having a bubble setup.

"That's the only time I think, maybe we can also avoid a bubble, which is still an option on the table," Rosales said. "But as the commissioner has already stated, it's very costly, not only financially, but also you have to address the mental health of those in the bubble," he added.

The league officials assured, though, that while they are trying to get this done as swiftly as possible, they will follow government protocol, and have no intention of "jumping the line."

Marcial said the vaccination will not be mandatory. However, those who will not have the jab will have a special set of limitations when it comes to movement, including quarantines.

He added that those who have been already vaccinated will not be a part of the PBA's count for vaccines. This includes himself, who had already been injected with the Sinovac vaccine, since he has hypertension.

Rosales said the league will also give vaccines to the family or household members of the players, coaches, league officials, and referees.

The league hopes vaccine rollout in the PBA will start by May or June. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News