The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is leaving no stone unturned as it hopes to make sure the restart of the 2021 Philippine Cup goes without a hitch in Bacolor, Pampanga.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said one of the measures they’re implementing is the mandatory antigen test that every team member has to go through on the morning of every game. This is done apart from the RT-PCR tests that everyone goes through every Monday.

The league is set to restart its stalled season on Wednesday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) gym in Bacolor. Games were stopped in August in response to the government’s thrust to curb the rise of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region.

The league was granted permission by the Pampanga provincial government to conduct its games in Pampanga since the area is currently in modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status. Despite the area’s MGCQ status, though, teams are strictly mandated to go from hotel to the playing venue and back again.

In addition, if or when Pampanga were to be placed in a stricter classification like the enhanced community quarantine, Marcial said they would immediately suspend the tournament. In addition, should six teams have positive cases, that too would merit stoppage of the competition.

“Kapag sinabi ng Pampanga na ECQ sila, hindi sila MGCQ or GCQ, hindi tayo maglalaro. May threshold tayo na pinagusapan with IATF and DOH sa teams. Meron na kapag six teams nagka-positive, may threshold ‘yun, tigil ang liga," shared Marcial on Spin.ph. (JNP)