A more defined ban under the general community quarantine (GCQ) will preclude the PBA from possibly using a similar approach the NBA is planning to take in partially reopening its practice facilities amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a virtual press conference Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stated that "sports-related gatherings" are categorized under sectors not allowed under both the current enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) setup and the GCQ.
The prohibition is also "not limited to trainings, games, tournaments (and) championships."
"If Metro Manila and other areas under ECQ transition to GCQ, these guidelines will equally be applicable," Roque said.
This is a more outlined restriction by the Palace compared to last Friday, when the PBA may have found itself classified as a business engaged in leisure, amusement, gaming and fitness in a set of general recommendations introduced by Roque during announcement of the extension of the current ECQ measure.
It is also only one among the recommendations made by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the GCQ subject to a final approval Wednesday by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), though Roque said no pushback against the directives is anticipated.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday that the NBA's plan to reopen practice facilities for teams in areas where stay-at-home restrictions have been eased has been pushed back a week, but the plan is still in place.
Roque's declaration, however, makes a similar suggestion impossible for the PBA, with commissioner Willie Marcial, who had already conceded the possibility of suspending the 2020 season, earlier stating how the league's teams would need at least a month after the quarantine to practice and get in shape again.
"Even if we're under ECQ, we have to take note of what's happening in areas under GCQ because we're all headed there -- hopefully," said Roque.
Marcial said the PBA board of governors will reconvene around the first week of May to plot its next steps.
"We'll try to look at the possibility of holding off any decision-making until August. And if the government doesn't lift restrictions by September, we'll lean towards cancelling the season," he said in Filipino in a phone call.
While the league continues to wait for further steps to be made by the Philippine government, it has already decided on some matters that needed to be attended to during the ECQ.
On the financial aspect of the business, Marcial said he will talk to TV and brand sponsors about their commitments this season, which stipulates that the league has to play a certain amount of games this season.
"Financially, this is a big sacrifice for the league and for all of us. But we will have to bear it," he said.
Marcial added that last year's champions will retain their titles and defend them again in the 46th season in the event of a cancellation this year. This year's draftees will also remain rookies, thereby adding to the number of incoming freshmen next season, and the one season D-League requirement for aspiring rookies will also be waived.
If ever the government allows the sports-related gatherings to be held again, Marcial said the league will also implement its own health measures.
"For sure, we'll have health protocols on practices and game-days, but that will only depend on whether or not the restrictions will be lifted during or after the GCQ. We'll surely talk about it, but we'll have to wait first," he said.