[ad_1]
The PBA bubble will come with a high price.
After refusing to reveal the exact amount earlier this week, President Ricky Vargas said Saturday that the league will spend around P65 million to safely resume the 2020 season in Clark, Pampanga.
“The commissioner has always stayed away from that question, but I’ll tell you. It’s about 65 million. [pesos]”he said on the Power & Play radio show hosted by former commissioner Noli Eala.” A pinakamalaking part of the cost is accommodation and food. “
Vargas said the sum could have been higher if the league hadn’t been able to enlist the help of generous benefactors.
“We got a lot of discounts on the spot,” he said.
“Thanks to Clark, even testing is now free,” added Vargas, who also shared that the league will do antigen testing before and after games and before the entire PBA delegation enters the bubble. “We formed a committee headed by Dr. (Raúl) Canlas.”
Aside from cost, other factors considered by the PBA’s Board of Governors, according to Vargas, are security: “Do you have room for us to guarantee security?” He said: adequate medical facilities, facilities for play and mental well-being, and strong connectivity as the games will be broadcast.
Vargas said working for Clark City was due to the fact that it had its own golf course, police force, hospitals and other medical and quarantine protocols.
However, the president said that the league will continue to comply with the rules established by higher authorities.
“More importantly, we will agree to what the IATF says in terms of protocols that they would like to add or ask us to comply with,” he said.
At press time, the IATF has yet to act on the PBA’s request to resume inter-team play, as well as the league’s approval to keep the bubble itself.
“We have our fingers crossed,” Vargas said. “At the end of the day, sabi nga nila, we must follow all the protocols of the IATF and the Department of Health. And we will. We will wait patiently for your approval.
“I think their only concern is: not to infect each other so that we can also protect people outside the bubble or inside the bubble, so that we don’t create another [outbreak]. And we really appreciate it. “
Enter, choose to exit the bubble
Only 25 people per team will be allowed to enter the bubble, and this excludes family members, Vargas said.
Once someone enters the bubble, there is no way out without suffering heavy penalties.
“They can’t go, they can’t go. If they go, they’re out. They can’t come back. That’s the bubble itself,” he said.
Players who leave the bubble due to family emergencies will not be able to return, and anyone who exits the bubble will lose their salary for a month, be fined P100,000 and receive a five-game suspension for the following season.
However, Vargas said that players can negotiate a opt-out option among management before entering the bubble.
“Kung nasa bubble ka na, if you choose not to participate, that will lead to some sanctions that we will impose on the player. Kung mag-o-opt out ka bago ng bubble, it is a contractual issue that will have to be discussed with the team.” said.
Next season?
Vargas is also optimistic that the PBA and other leagues can begin their next seasons given the abundance of “bubble” options officials can choose from.
“Maraming models that we can work with. And if we follow those models, I anticipate sports will come back,” he said.
In the meantime, however, the president said that all eyes are on the benefits that the resumption of the season will bring in the near future.
“Balik-Trabaho, buhay ang PBA even if we have to spend on it, even if we have to take some money out of our capital, even if we have to get lower shares in capital,” he said. “As far as the team owners and governors of the PBA are concerned, it’s about time to give it back to our fans who we think will appreciate it more when we get the PBA back.”
“This is a sport that most of us love, that the whole country loves. Putting it back on the air is a win not only for the value of entertainment, but also for mental health and the economy. [standpoint], “Vargas
