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It was supposed to be a huge celebration for the Philippine Basketball Association as the league entered its 45th season. March 8, 2020 saw a grand opening that pitted the finalists of the latest Philippine Cup Finals with the five-time defending champion San Miguel Beermen defeating Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok.
Just three days after the start, everything stopped. The 2020 PBA Philippine Cup competitions were suspended indefinitely when Luzon was locked out.
Months passed with no updates coming from the PBA as Metro Manila continued under enhanced community quarantine. The PBA players settled for training at home, sometimes doing it as a team via social media.
Then came the news that August would be the deadline for the 45th season of the PBA with three options on the table: two conferences, one conference and cancellation.
The PBA took steps to move closer to a possible comeback. During June and July, the PBA worked to get the teams back to practice. On July 18, the league announced that the Philippine Cup would be scheduled for October. Practices stopped again in mid-August when Metro Manila closed.
Many groups submitted their offers to host the PBA Bubble and the league announced on September 17 that Clark, Pampanga would be the host. The delegation would stay at the Quest Plus Conference Center and the games would be played at the Angeles University Foundation Arena.
The IATF did not approve the plans until September 24, and PBA teams began addressing Clark four days later.
With limited rooms available, each team was allowed to bring only 25 people. Up to 15 players were allowed, with each franchise deciding how to balance the rest of its contingent between coaches, team manager, physical therapists, and staff.
Aside from the teams, all the rest of the personnel involved in the coverage also had to be in a bubble configuration with the TV5 delegation staying at the Hotel Lohas, which was also located in Clark.
“Before the start of the bubble, there were so many things on my mind: the tests, the hotel, the gym, the practices. We really couldn’t wait for what was going to happen because everyone was doing it for the first time,” said Marcial. . . Before I got into the bubble, I did my best to prepare for all the possibilities. What if I test positive? What if I miss my family? I considered all of those things so I wouldn’t be caught off guard. Adapt on the fly. , polish things up little by little, treat each step as a learning experience. “
FINALLY, came the day. October 11th. The resumption of the Philippine Cup, exactly seven months after the suspension of the game.
There were many challenges for the teams as they raced to regain fitness. Some teams didn’t have full lineups at the start of training with players like LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan and Maverick Ahanmisi entering the bubble much later than their teammates.
The bubble’s first big challenge came when a referee had an inconclusive COVID-19 test. The referee was transferred to the government isolation facility at the New Clark City Athlete’s Village. Four days later, another inconclusive test result came in from a Blackwater Elite player. However, additional tests showed that both the referee and the player did not have the coronavirus.
Some games were called off during testing and the postponement added even more pressure to an already packed schedule. With the PBA and its associated government agencies installing new protocols to further safeguard the bubble, the action paused for a few days. The delay forced the PBA to play four games a day, with most teams needing to play on consecutive days for the knockout round to finish on time.
“I was wondering how they could get the virus. Maybe in the gym? Maybe the food that came from outside? I considered everything and we all lost sleep because of it,” Marcial said. “We did new tests and we waited for the result. We expected the results at 3 am and even at 7 am. It was stressful times.”
Finally, the PBA decided to contract the services of the Red Cross for the bi-monthly COVID-19 tests for the entire delegation.
“That generated additional expenses of around 2.3 million pesos, but we give peace of mind to the PBA, the players, the Governing Board and the families of all those who are within the PBA Bubble,” said Marcial. “You couldn’t put a monetary equivalent for that kind of reassurance.”
Players perfect the grueling schedule to finish on time. Throughout the competition that saw Barangay Ginebra San Miguel be crowned the new Philippine Cup champions, there was a sense of camaraderie and community in the PBA Bubble.
“The Board of Governors could have played it safe and held on to the money they spent on the PBA bubble. However, they knew they had to make a statement.”
From old teammates who remember their careers, to brothers, cousins, and parents and children who managed to strengthen their bond, to rivals on the court who became friends on the golf course, the bubble did its part to forge new relationships. renewing the old ones. and deepening of the existing ones.
There was a sense of responsibility and all the staff who entered the PBA bubble knew that a careless act could not only cost them heavy fines, but also jeopardize the livelihoods of many people.
Players also realized that the bubble was larger than individual races or team success. The Philippine Cup was crucial for the league to advance. The Board of Governors could have played it safe and held on to the money they spent on the PBA bubble. However, they knew they needed to make a statement. They needed to show that the PBA remains the preeminent sporting event in the country and being the first to resume operations amid the pandemic certainly propelled the league forward.
The PBA bubble was also used to promote proper health protocols. Even if everyone got tested regularly, they still wore masks as much as possible to remind the community of their effectiveness. Viewership numbers meant that many of those who watched the games stayed home. It means that the PBA, in its own way, helped keep a lot of people on the inside.
The Bubble was a great challenge for everyone. Many missed the celebrations with their families, and some had to endure the absence while their loved ones were devastated by consecutive storms. But everyone aspired to success.
Some fought stress with routine. Coach Tim Cone took a shower every day and had an occasional ice cream cone which was always two scoops, but the flavor swung between vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. Matthew Wright found a peculiar hobby, as he set out to scoop out the falling leaves into the pool every time Phoenix Super LPG had leisure or water training sessions. Wright said it put him in a relaxed state, so he did it as much as he could.
USUALLY The PBA bubble was about overcoming challenges. No story sums this up better than the return of Calvin Abueva. It was a long and arduous journey for “The Beast” but it ultimately culminated in their return. It took several steps, tears from coach Topex Robinson and the constant support of the entire team, but when Abueva returned, it was clear that he was a different man. Abueva had his spark and fire and they were focused on the game. His play helped Phoenix Super LPG become the bubble-breaking team, which is now a serious title contender.
“There was a big difference in Calvino,” said Marcial, who was criticized for his handling of the Abueva situation by PBA fans. For the PBA Commissioner, Abueva’s change was the claim that the process he went through, with the guidance of the PBA and the Board of Games and Entertainment, worked.
“Every time a player fell, it didn’t matter if he was a teammate or an opponent, he was one of the first to pick him up. I watched him closely. He never retaliated, even if he was hit. It was a total change.”
The PBA bubble was something the league needed to do to show that it is still a leader in the sports industry. Their efforts have already led to another opportunity with FIBA choosing the Philippines to host two groups in the February Asian Cup Qualifiers at the same bubble location in Clark.
It is no exaggeration to say that this would have been a long shot if the PBA did not set the standards for hosting a successful bubble.
For next year, the league will have to be agile once again as it tries to move forward while still being surrounded by a lot of uncertainty. Marcial has already spoken about the possibility of closed circuit competitions for the 46th Season to minimize costs and reduce the psychological burden on the teams.
Still, the PBA Bubble will hold a special place in the hearts of everyone who was a part of it. Hopefully, for the PBA, it was a shot in the arm that the league needed to gain momentum going forward.
“I saw the sacrifices of the entire delegation. I told myself that if I see a jump between two in the first game, it will already be a great achievement, but we managed to keep going even when we faced new challenges,” Marcial closed.
“The completion of the PBA Bubble was the best Christmas present.”
ESPN5.com’s Noel Zarate contributed to this story.
