THE PBA resuming its season not only means the return of sports in the country, but also helps revitalize the economy and help in the mental health of the people.
As the country's top sports entertainment, Asia's first ever play-for-pay league covers not just basketball, but other sectors of the society as well.
And seeing the league off and running once more, hopefully starting on Oct. 9 through a bubble concept at Clark in Angeles, Pampanga, would give the Filipino people a sense of hope and normalcy even with the COVID-19 pandemic still very much around.
"This is the sport that most of us love, that the whole country loves. And bringing it back on air is a win not only from an entertainment value, but also from a mental health or from an economic (standpoint)," said PBA Board chairman Ricky Vargas in the Power&Play radio program of former commissioner Noli Eala.
The league - and sports in general - has been one of the most affected following the outbreak of the health crisis six months ago.
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But with other sports leagues around the world successfully restarting their respective seasons through innovative models and concepts, Vargas said it's high-time the PBA follows the high road, too.
"Kung maging successful tayo dito sa bubble, it will open up the economy and it will become a more engaged environment lalo na sa sports," said Vargas, the TnT Katropa governor and representative to the PBA Board.
"Maraming models that we can work with, and if we follow those models, I foresee that sports would be back."
But the league chairman also knows the PBA's responsibility of taking care of the health and welfare of its players and personnel for the season resumption to be a success.
Following all the health protocols and guidelines to the hilt is on top of it.
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"At the end of the day, we need to follow all the IATF and the Department of Health (DoH) protocols. And we will do that," Vargas assured. (RG)
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