Inspired by the success of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is now looking into the possibility of creating a “bubble” wherein they could restart the league’s stalled 45th season.
The plan was revealed by league chairman Ricky Vargas during an appearance on the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) online Forum on Tuesday morning, April 25, 2020.
Vargas disclosed that several areas are now being carefully evaluated. This includes the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Clark in Pampanga and the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna. He added that the idea will be discussed further during the league’s board meeting later this week.
Vargas said the NBA has presented professional leagues all over the world with a viable model that they could use to get their respective competitions back running. The NBA has moved its operations to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando where it is currently staging the Playoffs.
“My own feeling as part of the board as chairman is we don’t have a choice. May model na eh. The model is the NBA and we should just go ahead and move forward and look forward to the time na maglalaro tayo whether it’s an NBA way or a more innovative way, (I feel that we don’t have a choice since there is already a model. The model is the NBA and we should just go ahead and move forward and look forward to the time where we could play again using the NBA way or some other innovative way),” said Vargas.
The board governor of TnT KaTropa said several members of the board are warm to the idea but the biggest issue lies in finding a suitable place where the league could create its “bubble.”
“They are also as excited. In fact, we are talking about several options in terms of following the bubble. The question is, meron bang lugar sa Pilipinas na puwede tayong mag-bubble kasi wala namang Disneyland." (JNP)