The chorus of a 1997 song from an
English alternative rock band goes, “I get knocked down, but I get up again.”
Such a line can be taken up as a forceful mantra to fire oneself up during the
COVID-19 pandemic. And it is one way to describe the Philippine Basketball
Association this season. With high hopes the league began its 2021 season in
July 16, hoping to squeeze at least two of its usual three conferences in that
time. August 3 saw the Philippine Cup suspended when Metro Manila underwent
ECQ, but with a new low-quarantine venue set, the games can resume next month.
CNN Philippines reports that the PBA has announced on Tuesday,
August 31, the next set of games for this season’s Philippine Cup. It will be
tomorrow, the first day of September, at the Don Honorio Ventura State University
Gymnasium of Bacolor, Pampanga. This comes after nearly a full month that the
country’s pro basketball league has again been compelled to halt its game
schedule because of pandemic quarantine restrictions. Pampanga is not part of
the NCR Plus area of concern, but is reasonably close to Metro Manila for PBA’s
consideration.
PBA na!
— PBA (@pbaconnect) August 31, 2021
Here’s this week’s schedule 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼#PBAiTuloyAngLaban pic.twitter.com/G54GgD6HHi
Much like the season opening back
in July 16, expect three games back to back when Philippine Cup play resumes on
Wednesday. First on the program is a matchup between lossless TNT Tropang Giga
and zero-win (this season) Blackwater Bossing at half-past noon. The 3PM slot
will be filled by the San Miguel Beermen and Terrafirma, while the last game at
6PM will be played between the Meralco Bolts and the Magnolia Pambansang Manok
Hotshots. The first five game days of the resumed season will see alternating
three-game and two-game schedules, as the league tries to play all matches it
can for the playoff bracket.
In hopes of making sure this
conference is not met with another stoppage, the PBA is planning heightened
health and safety protocol standards for players, officials and staff, for strict
compliance and with stiffer penalties. COVID tests will be regularly
implemented, with RT-PCR being given every Monday to all league members, and
antigen tests every game day morning for all players, officials and staff
involved. The 12 teams in conference are quartered in different venues across
Clark Freeport Zone and nearby Angeles City, heading to the Ventura University gym
when they are up to play.
Image courtesy of Inquirer.net – Sports
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