The PBA has yet to allow teams to resume training, but the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are already looking for a facility where they can exclusively hold their practices.
Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia told ESPN5.com on Monday, though, that the health of the players is a top priority when looking for a gym they can use.
"Right now, going back (to practice), ang ina-allow pa lang ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) is mga pro teams. So hopefully, may gym na will allow us na kami lang ang gagamit, 'yun ang hinahanap namin, a gym that would accommodate us," said Garcia. "Mahirap naman mag-practice sa gym na may kasunud kami or sa kabila na may maglalaro."
For years, Rain or Shine has been practicing at the NEGA gym inside a village in Greenhills, San Juan, but before the lockdown was imposed in March, they had to hold several practices at the Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong when the NEGA gym was under repair.
Garcia said he wants to divide his 16 players into four batches, but he is eager to hear what league commissioner Wille Marcial will say when the coaches and managers meet at the PBA office on Friday.
Garcia added he has kept in touch with his players, who have been focused on conditioning exercises throughout the quarantine.
"Kami naman sa Viber group, we keep in touch. Kasi iba pa rin yung nasanay ka na lagi mo sila kasama, at nagkamustahan kayo," he said. "During the lockdown, our trainers gave them (players) something to do, some exercises. Now, just in case ma-lift na ang decision for us to play, after our Friday meeting, we will go to Zoom for a meeting again to discuss to the players what will be our adjustments."
Garcia also explained that everyone should continue to observe proper health protocols even when practice resumes because "everything is a risk."
"We just have to follow protocols given by the government like wear a mask, observe social distancing," he said. "Sa basketball naman, we just have to take care of ourselves and follow strictly the guidelines given to us. We all want to play. Kahit ako gusto ko na maglaro, eh what more the players."
NorthPort team manager Bonnie Tan said they will wait for the meeting on Friday before determining their next course of action. The Batang Pier, in the meantime, are also working on their conditioning through their online workouts.