Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone
SUPORTADO ng ilang coaches ang desisyon ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) na paikliin ang kasalukuyang season bunga ng coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Suspindido pa ang liga dahil na rin sa enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) na ipinatupad para mapigilan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 at nagdesisyon na ang PBA Board of Governors na paikliin ang Season 45.
Sinabi naman ni Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone na matatagalan bago bumalik sa normal ang lahat bunga ng coronavirus pandemic at tama lamang ang naging desisyon ng PBA Board.
“I think the governors’ assessment and decision are right on point,” sabi ni Cone sa ulat mula sa official website ng PBA. “It seems we still have ways to go before we get a chance to play again.”
“We’ll have to figure out what is the new normal and how we can get the league back on track,” dagdag pa ni Cone.
Si Cone ang huling coach na nakakuha ng championship trophy matapos na mapanalunan ng Gin Kings ang 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup at sinabi niya na ang makapaglarong muli ay kasiyahan na rin na tulad ng pagwawagi ng isa pang titulo.
“I’ll be extremely happy if we can get in two conferences this year,” sabi pa ng 22-time PBA champion at two-time Grand Slam winner. “Just playing again will be like winning a championship for all of us.”
Sinabi naman ni TNT KaTropa consultant Mark Dickel na layunin nila ang makapaglaro muli bagamat prayoridad pa rin ang kalusugan ng lahat.
“Whenever the games start again, it will be great,” sabi ni Dickel. “But ultimately it has to be safe for everyone. Whatever the PBA decides regarding conferences is fine by me.”
Pinangunahan nina PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial at Chairman Ricky Vargas ang isang conference call noong Martes kung saan pinag-aralan ng mga governors ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon at inilatag ang susunod na gagawin ng liga kapag ipinagpatuloy muli ang season, lalo na at pinalawig ng pamahalaan ang ECQ hanggang Abril 30.
Sinabi naman ni Marcial na pinag-iisipan na nang liga ang pagsasagawa ng dalawang kumperensiya ngayong season imbes na tatlo.
Ang single-conference format ay posible ring isagawa kung ang krisis sa COVID-19 ay magtatagal.
“We still don’t know until when this will last,” sabi ni Marcial. “If the government clears everything by April 30 and the ban on public gatherings is lifted, then practice can start once again.”
“If we can resume play by June then we’ll have two conferences. If the health crisis lasts until, let’s say August, then we can resume practices by then, but the season will, maybe, just be one conference,” dagdag pa ni Marcial.