Members of Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel Beer and Magnolia, which are teams under the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) umbrella, underwent swab testing for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at St. Luke's Hospital Wednesday.
In videos posted on Instagram stories, SMB's June Mar Fajardo, Magnolia's Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca, and Barangay Ginebra's Scottie Thompson were seen donning face shields, disposable masks and gloves while awaiting testing.
Sumailalim sa #COVID19 swab testing ang San Miguel, Brgy. Ginebra, at Magnolia players.
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) May 27, 2020
(🎥 @saginghilaw15, @mark_barroca, @jalalon6/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/yVW3gfXq7T
ESPN5.com has tried to reach officials from all three teams to gather more information on the testing, but has received no response yet.
The testing is in line with the SMC group's initiative to take precautionary measures against COVID-19 after PBA commissioner Willie Marcial disclosed last week how some teams have begun examining the testing of their respective camps.
"All teams, officials and players will really have to be tested if there are any activities or if we have any plans," Marcial said.
The SMC group, spearheaded by president Ramon S. Ang and Barangay Ginebra board of governor and SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua, has offered to get all PBA office employees and the league's pool of referees tested soon.
Last week, Marcial said no PBA player, coach, staff or official so far has tested positive for COVID-19.
As of posting, there have been 15,049 confirmed cases in the Philippines according to the Department of Health, with 3,506 recoveries and 904 casualties also recorded.
San Miguel Beermen team manager Gee Abanilla described the process as "uncomfortable but bearable".
"All the three SMC teams had our swab test upon instructions of upper management," Abanilla told ESPN5.com in a text message. "The players really appreciated the opportunity to have themselves checked to make sure that we are safe to others as well as to ourselves.
"It's was bit uncomfortable but it was bearable. Maybe its because we are not really used to it. They had to get a swab sample in the throat and the nose but people shouldn't be scared of it. It was a necessity to be safe to others and ourselves!"