THE Philippine Basketball Association family observes the "bayanihan spirit" in implementing guidelines and protocols in its return-to-training plan for the ball clubs.
One good example is San Miguel Corp.'s willingness and readiness to extend help to the other teams in running COVID-19 tests for players, coaches and officials.
Under the proposed protocols the PBA Commissioner's Office is suggesting to get the Inter-Agency Task Force approval for the gradual return of the 12 PBA ball clubs to on-court training, players will have to undergo rapid, swab and rapid testing every month.
The PBA board, in a first face-to-face meeting Wednesday, approved a no-testing, no-training policy as part of the league's effort to hopefully resume the COVID-interrupted season by October.
All the players of the three teams - San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia - under the SMC umbrella have had their initial tests, with no one testing positive.
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TNT's coaches were to undergo their test Thursday, followed by the players while NLEX and Meralco (although all under the MVP Group) have their separate testings. The Road Warriors will be tested together with their respective immediate families.
"For the other teams, San Miguel expressed readiness to extend help as they have machines and test kits," said PBA chairman Ricky Vargas.
Also through the kindness of SMC chief Ramon S. Ang, all 41 personnel of the PBA were accommodated by SMC for testing last Saturday.
PBA teams are willing to help each other in other efforts in a bid to get the league back to action. (SB)