The looming return of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) hopes to give the Filipino people entertainment and an overall sense of normalcy during these COVID-19-ravaged times.
Although the league is still waiting for the green light from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases to move forward with their plan to return to action on October 9 in a “bubble” setting in Clark, Pampanga, PBA Board chairman Ricky Vargas is hopeful that its return can help revive the economy and boost the people’s morale with the dreaded coronavirus still very much present.
“This is the sport that most of us love, that the whole country loves. And bringing it back on air is a win not only from an entertainment value, but also from a mental health or from an economic standpoint," said PBA Board chairman Ricky Vargas during an appearance on the Power&Play radio program.
The league has been in hiatus since March when it suspended operations at the height of the health crisis. With the situation improving, the league’s teams have since been allowed to return to practice albeit in small groups. Now, the PBA is finally looking at a return to game action, which Vargas hopes could spark the return of sports, in general, to the rest of the country.
"Kung maging successful tayo dito sa bubble, it will open up the economy and it will become a more engaged environment lalo na sa sports. Maraming models that we can work with, and if we follow those models, I foresee that sports would be back," Vargas added.
The league chairman emphasized that it all starts with the PBA adhering to all the health protocols and guidelines.
“At the end of the day, we need to follow all the IATF and the Department of Health protocols. And we will do that," Vargas stressed. (JNP)