PBA opts to stay in Pampanga for Philippine Cup Finals

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will still hold the best-of-seven series of the 2021 Philippine Cup Finals between the TNT Tropang Giga and Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok in the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said they considered moving back to Metro Manila but opted to stay in Pampanga due to safety reasons.

"OK naman tayo lumipat sa NCR kasi two teams na lang 'yan, pero sa tingin namin, mas safe na 'yung mga players nasa Pampanga," Marcial said in a press conference on Tuesday. "Alam na nila 'yung galawan, wala na silang makakasama. Sa tingin namin, mas safe doon."

(We're okay to move to NCR since there are just two teams left, but we think it's safer for players to stay in Pampanga. They know the routine, they have less people to interact with. We think it's safer there."

Marcial said the logistics needed to set up the Finals in Metro Manila would add more days to their schedule.

"Kung tumaas na naman alert level sa Metro Manila, ibig sabihin, babalik na naman kami sa Pampanga," the commissioner said, adding they would have had to seek another set of permissions if they needed to move back to Pampanga if alerts would be raised in NCR.

"Mas maganda na doon (Pampanga) na lang mag-finals para safe and disiplinado."

(It's better to play the Finals there in Pampanga since it's safer and they will be more disciplined.)

The Finals between TNT and Magnolia will start on Wednesday.

The PBA moved the games to Pampanga in September after the conference, then held in Pasig, was halted due to the imposition of more restrictive quarantine rules in NCR.

Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 from October 16-31, 2021.

With the imposition of Alert Level 3, conduct of contact sports under a bubble setup is allowed.

—JMB, GMA News