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No green light for PBA if COVID-19 cases keep rising

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/sports/03/04/pba-images1.jpg"/></figure></div><p>MANILA, Philippines -- <strong>(UPDATED) </strong>The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will not be allowed to open its 46th season if the COVID-19 cases in the country continue to rise.</p><p>This was the condition given to PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and Barangay Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua by Senator Bong Go and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea following their <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/27/21/pba-set-malacanang-meeting-to-discuss-options-for-season-46">meeting at Malacañang</a> on Wednesday. </p><p>&quot;Nag-request tayo kung ano ang pwede,&quot; Marcial said in a press briefing on Thursday afternoon.</p><p>&quot;Sabi nila, one, kailangan bumaba tlaga &#x27;yung ating cases ng COVID,&quot; he said. &quot;Kung hindi bababa, baka hindi tayo makapaglaro.&quot;</p><p>The PBA initially hoped to open its 46th season on April 18, but those plans were scuppered as a Metro Manila and nearby provinces were placed under enhanced community quarantine following a spike in coronavirus cases.</p><p>&quot;NCR Plus,&quot; which includes Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, remains under modified enhanced community quarantine until May 14. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/28/21/may-2021-quarantine-ncr-plus-mecq">READ: Duterte extends MECQ in NCR Plus until May 14</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Kailangan tayo magtulong-tulong para bumaba ang mga cases,&quot; said Marcial. &quot;Kung hindi, hindi tayo magsisimula. Hindi lang basketball -- lahat.&quot;</p><p>On Thursday, the country <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/philippines-covid19-cases-update-april292021">reported 8,276 new COVID-19 cases</a>, bringing the cumulative total to 1,028,738 million. There are currently 69,354 remaining as active cases in the Philippines as per the latest bulletin from the Department of Health.</p><p>In order to aid their cause, the PBA is ramping up its vaccination program. While the parent companies of PBA franchises can order their own COVID-19 vaccines, they will also be aided by the government. According to Chua, Go said the government will sell COVID-19 vaccines to the PBA. </p><p>&quot;Para makapag-umpisa at matulungan ang buong PBA family, &#x27;pag dumating sa government (ang vaccine), bebentahan niya ang buong PBA para makasimula na. Bibigyan niya kami ng special slot, para ma-vaccine ang mga players, pamilya ng mga players, pati coaches, managers, lahat,&quot; Chua said of Go&#x27;s guarantee to the league. </p><p>&quot;Ang sabi, bebentahan. Ilalagay ko kayo sa prioirty list na pwede kayo bumili ng vaccine diretso sa amin,&quot; he added.</p><p>The country&#x27;s vaccination drive started last March, with frontline health care workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities first in the priority list. Earlier this month, the government approved a fourth priority group, frontline personnel in essential sectors.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/16/21/iatf-a4-covid-vaccine-who-list">READ: COVID task force OKs 4th priority group for vaccination; vendors, clergy included</a></li></ul><p>As of April 29, a total of 4,025,600 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in the Philippines, as per the <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/infographic/03/23/21/philippines-covid-19-vaccine-tracker">ABS-CBN News vaccine tracker</a>. Over 1.8 million doses have been administered.</p><p>&quot;Pinayagan kami ni Sen. Bong Go na mag-purchase ng sarili naming vaccine,&quot; Chua also said. &quot;So what&#x27;s gonna happen here, is whichever comes first. Kung ano ang mauna, &#x27;yun ang gagamitin.&quot;</p><p>But Marcial warned that even if the entire PBA family is vaccinated, it&#x27;s no guarantee that they will receive the go-signal to open their season.</p><p>&quot;Kunwari na-vaccine na lahat, pero mataas pa rin ang cases, hindi pa rin tayo papayagan,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1674343" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>(UPDATED) The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will not be allowed to open its 46th season if the COVID-19 cases in the country continue to rise.</p>

(UPDATED) The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will not be allowed to open its 46th season if the COVID-19 cases in the country continue to rise.

No green light for PBA if COVID-19 cases keep rising

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No green light for PBA if COVID-19 cases keep rising

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 29, 2021 05:42 PM PHT

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Updated Apr 29, 2021 06:37 PM PHT

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