DI lang sa basketball, bagkus pinayagan na ng Games and Amusements Board (GAB) ang balik -ensayo ng mga atleta sa lahat ng professional sports na nasa pangangasiwa ng ahensiya at batay sa aprubadong ‘health and safety’ protocl ng Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

 

“Although anti-Covid-19 vaccines are already out in the market, we have to remember that there is a new Covid-19 variant, and we are still under a state of a public health emergency. That is why we, the GAB and pro sports stakeholders, have to continue to be compliant with the IATF rules and DOH guidelines to ensure the safety of our Pinoy pro athletes and the general public,” ani GAB  Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra.

 

Bago ang pahayag, masinsinang nakipagpulong ang mga opisyal ng GAB na kinabibilangan nina Mitra, Commissioners Mar Masanguid at Atty. Ed Trinidad, gayundin ang mga division head sa lahat ng sports stakeholders sa nakalipas na mga linggo.

 

Nitong Enero 11, isinumite ng PBA ang proposed health and safety protocols para sa individual workouts ng mga player sa GAB Medical Section and Professional Basketball and Professional Games Division. 

 

Sa hiwalay na programa, nagsumite rin ng kanilang posisyon ang Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas 3x3, National Basketball League (NBL), at Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL).

 

Matapos ang pag-uusap ng GAB nitong Enero 21, pinayagan ng GAB ang protocols para sa individual workouts ng PBA players, ngunit kailangan nilang makipag-ugnayan at humingi ng permiso sa kinasasakupang Local Government Unit. 

 

Kailangan ding mabisita muna ng GAB Medical Section ang venue na pagdadausan ng pagsasanay. 

 

Ayon kay Mitra, ang naturang requirement ay nakasaad sa Supplemental Guidelines sa SC-GAB-DOH Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-0001 or Guidelines on the Conduct of Health-Enhancing Physical Activities and Sports during the Covid-19 Pandemic.  (LP/GAB)