AFTER the 3rd Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao was rescheduled from March 22 to May 10 on Tuesday, February 11, due to the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), two huge sporting events - the Philippine Collegiate Champions’ League (PCCL)/Escandor Cup Vis/Min Regional Championship and PCCL National Finals set to be held in Davao City were also postponed to an undetermined date.

In a statement, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 11, through the Collegiate Sponsors League/Escandor Cup Facebook page, issued an announcement, saying, “We are sorry to announce that the Vis/Min and National Finals will be postponed until further notice amid the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare. Please be guided, thank you.”

SBP 11 operations head Ronel Leuterio, in a Facebook chat Wednesday, said, “Postpone na kasi ayaw na ni (Mayor) Sara ng large gathering.”

The Vis-Min regional finals was originally slated February 17 to 20 at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center (DCRC) while the national finals was set a week after it.

PCCL Mindanao nine-peat champion Holy Trinity College of General Santos City along with second and third placers Mats College of Technology and Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Crusaders advanced to the Vis-Min regional finals along with the best of the Visayas - Southwestern University Cobras, University of the Visayas Green Lancers and Asian College of Dumaguete.

Meanwhile, Sunrise Events Incorporated (SEI) general manager Princess Galura, in a phone interview with SunStar Davao February 11, said postponing the Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao was an initiative of the city government of Davao. Thus, SEI checked the water, tide, venue partner Azuela Cove and Ironman global if the May 10 schedule is feasible.

“Everything just fell into place,” Galura said.