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CLARK FREEPORT: Life goes on for the 12 teams inside the PBA bubble.
While there may be concern over the first suspected case of COVID-19 contraction in the Philippine Cup, most ball clubs continued their usual routine, albeit with some restrictions.
Players and coaches expressed a bit of apprehension, but remain confident of their safety and health in the bubble, as long as all follow proper but strict health protocols.
“Everything is fine. Just follow all the protocols,” active consultant Mark Dickel of TnT Katropa tournament co-leader said Thursday.
Phoenix coach Topex Robinson also shared the same thoughts as the New Zealander.
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“What we can do is make sure we strictly follow the security protocols that the officials provided us,” he said.
After activities at the Quest Hotel were suspended at the time the league announced that one of its umpires is a suspect case, business in the bubble slowly perked up on Thursday afternoon as management began opening the pool. , the running area and the gym. to team players and staff.
The hotel’s suspension of activities was lifted shortly after Alaska and Blackwater ended their swab reassessments. Both teams asked the Department of Health and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) to undergo another test as they were the last teams to play and therefore exposed the umpires before the probable case was presented.
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Still, teams don’t take chances.
“We are still following the PBA guidelines and limiting our movement within the bubble,” said Nash Racela, the Blackwater coach.
While the referee, who is asymptomatic, has already been transferred to the New Clark City (NCC) quarantine facility and tested negative for his antigen, the arrests cannot be ignored.
“Of course, the fear will not go away,” said Blackwater team manager Jacob Munez.
“There is great concern because we were all exposed to the umpires in our last game,” added Alaska coach Jeffrey Cariaso.
Even Barangay Geneva’s mentor Tim Cone admitted that the Kings spoke about the referee’s case before their game against Phoenix on Wednesday night.
“It certainly was a talking point,” he said, adding how the team has been talking about it in their Viber group when news of the suspected case spread inside the bubble.
NLEX coach Yeng Guiao has a different perspective.
“Sa akin, it wasn’t really a big problem because psychologically I really prepared myself [for that happening]. I know it’s really hard to be 100 percent, something can go wrong, “he said.
“But the good thing about this is that when something goes wrong, you can still maintain control and you can still execute it professionally as we are doing,” said Guiao, a former deputy governor and congressman from Pampanga.
“Sa akin I’m not really worried, I’m not in a panic or whatever. These people know what they are doing and can handle it. “
