Published May 14, 2021, 9:15 PM
NLEX coach Yeng Guiao (PBA Images)
The management of NLEX has already reached out to the Administrative Office of Quezon City Hall for approval of the Road Warriors to conduct practice sessions at the Epsilon Chi Center inside University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City.
NLEX team manager Ronald Dulatre said Friday, May 14, that the team already submitted a request with endorsement from the PBA Commissioner’s Office and a memo from the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
“Most likely we’ll resume training at the UP gym, but we have to wait for the approval of the LGU. We already sent our request,” said Dulatre when contacted by
Published May 11, 2021, 3:06 PM
MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes (Screenshot from PSA Forum)
A total of 19 teams are already confirmed to see action in the next season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPLB) tagged as the Mumbaki Cup which is being eyed to be held under a sports bubble setup.
MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes bared this development along with other plans for the next season during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, May 11.
Lakan Cup champion Davao Occidental and runner-up San Juan headline the holdovers from last season while new team Negros Muscovados are set to join the fourth season of the regional semi-pro league.
THE PBA admitted it can no longer afford to hold another bubble this season.
In his meeting with the IATF last Wednesday, Commissioner Willie Marcial told the agency how difficult it is to mount another bubble which the league did last year just to be able to mount its 45th season amid a pandemic.
Marcial said the undertaking was not only a mental burden for players, coaches, and team personnel, it was also financially challenging for the entire league itself.
“Sinabi ko rin sa IATF yun, hindi na namin kayang mag-bubble. Mahirap. Inamin ko na mahirap kasi magastos,” stressed the PBA chief during a press briefing on Friday.
Published May 5, 2021, 2:38 PM
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial is not ruling out the possibility that Batangas City may end up as a venue for the 46th season.
Marcial said in a TV interview that the likelihood of having games in his hometown will depend on the COVID-19 situation and the success of the upcoming PBA practices in the city.
“Titignan natin kung ano sitwasyon,” Marcial said in One Sports’ The Game ahead of Friday’s visit where he and city officials will finalize protocols and other details of the practices.
“Kung successful naman at pinapayagan tayo ng (Inter-Agency) Task Force na mag-scrimmages dun, tatanungin natin kung pwede din na baka maglaro ng season or ng conference. Kahit isang conference or 1-2 months,” added Marcial.
Published May 3, 2021, 9:50 AM
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel assistant coach Richard del Rosario thinks the waiting game surrounding the start of the PBA season is making it stressful for players and coaches who are raring to get back on the hardcourt.
“To be honest with you, mas stressful nga itong nangyayari na di pa tayo nagsisimula because of the uncertainty. Mas stressful yung di mo alam mangyayari,” Del Rosario said in the 2OT podcast that aired Saturday, May 1.
(To be honest, the current situation is more stressful because of the uncertainty.)
Del Rosario expressed this belief as the PBA continues to find ways for the 46th season to tip off amid the current COVID-19 situation where cases rose to an average of at least 8,000 per day since mid-March.