With the ongoing global spread,
and rising death toll, of the 2019 novel coronavirus it is rather
understandable that certain facets of the worldwide economy as well as
timetable of events are being upended one after another. With the travel
lockdown in China, demand for oil has lessened, causing a rollback in prices
but also risking petroleum exporters reducing their output. Quite the number of
events to be held in that country have been postponed, moved or canceled. Even
the Philippines, with its own nCoV cases, must adjust schedules to some of its
events, like the start of basketball season.
CNN Philippines reports that the Philippine Basketball Association
(PBA) has decided to put off the opening of its 2020 basketball season for a
week at least from its original scheduled date next month. Rather than start on
March 1, the first Sunday, the league is pushing it back on the second Sunday
or March 8. The venue of Smart Aranete Coliseum however will not be changed.
This postponement is in line with the PBA supporting current measures being
proposed by the Department of Health (DOH) and the government regarding
precautions to take while the novel coronavirus outbreak is still “hot.”
Such a degree of caution is
increasingly warranted right now. Since early January when the country was
still considered nCoV-free, entry by travellers from China has set off an
infection spree that now sees 314 “patients under investigation” that are being
monitored to see if they develop the respiratory ailments symptomatic of novel
coronavirus infection. PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial stated on a post at the
official league website this Monday, February 10, that they are considering the
health and safety of teams, players, officials and fan audiences to be their
topmost priority to protect from the ongoing novel coronavirus emergency.
Date change aside what will be
scheduled to happen at the start of the 2020 basketball season for the PBA will
also remain unchanged. Before the game proper, the league will present the
latest edition of the Leo Awards to the top achieving players from the 2019
season. Then the Magnolia Hotshots and the San Miguel Beermen will be pitted in
the first game of the Philippine Cup conference. Meanwhile, the PBA D-League
has also gotten its season start moved, from Thursday this week, February 13,
to March 2, but still at the Paco Arena.
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