COVID-19 cases should decline before PBA allowed to play, Malacañang tells league

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Willie Marcial said that, according to Malacañang officials, the league must wait for coronavirus cases to go down before the PBA is allowed to restart.

Marcial shared the pronouncement in a press conference Thursday, one day after their meeting with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.

"Sinabi nila na kailangan bumaba muna 'yung COVID cases. Kung hindi, baka hindi tayo makapaglaro," said the league commissioner.

Marcial also said they were advised to ask for help from vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr. regarding the league's procurement of vaccines.

"But they also said that if other teams will have their own vaccines, then they can start vaccination," he added.

The commissioner added that they asked the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF) to start scrimmages after the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) is lifted.

He remains hopeful that if PBA's 46th season starts by June, there is still a possibility of holding two conferences for the season. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News