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PBA: Tuloy ang laban

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PBA games will return on Nov. 3.

HERE’S good news to all PBA fans.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) yesterday announced that it will resume the games of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) Sports Arena in

Angeles City, Pampanga on Tuesday, Nov. 3. on Tuesday.

The PBA said it will impose new protocols recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) before the resumption of the games.

The league said it is committed to comply with the latest recommendation of the IATF noting that the health and safety of the 350 participants in the PBA bubble remains its top priority.

The IATF’s recommended protocols are as follows:

— Completion of 10-day isolation of Blackwater player from the date of swabbing before resuming the games.

— Completion of 14-day quarantine and testing before entering the bubble for all those who will test positive moving forward;

— The appointment of an independent marshall, who shall oversee and ensure compliance with health and safety protocols, as recommended by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

As an additional safety measure and in coordination with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), the PBA will be assigned a separate temporary quarantine facility within the Clark Freeport Zone.

These additional protocols from health experts are put in place to ensure the integrity of the bubble.

We would like to reiterate that the PBA bubble has not been breached but we must always strengthen our protocols in consultation with the IATF and NTF to ensure the safety of everyone in the bubble,” the PBA said in a statement.

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra welcomed the decision of the PBA to follow the new protocols being set by the IATF and the Department of Health, saying the health and safety of the 350 participants in the NBA-inspired PBA bubble in Pampanga should remain the priority.

It’s better to be safe than sorry,” said Mitra.

Last Friday, the PBA announced that it has decided to briefly suspend the games to follow the new protocols of the IATF.

League officials said the move was in compliance with the recommendation of the Technical Working Group of the IATF and the DOH Advisory Group of Experts to ensure the integrity and safety of the league bubble.

The Friday twin bill featuring NorthPort against Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra against five-time defending champion San Miguel was the first scheduled doubleheader to be affected by the latest postponement of the games.

PBA sources said officials are now discussing whether or not to revise the schedule of the games.

Based on the original schedule, the games on Tuesday would pit Phoenix Super LPG against Blackwater at 4 p.m. and Talk N Text against Magnolia at 6:45 p.m.