IKINALUKOD ni Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra ang pagtalima at pagsunod ng iba’t ibang pro league sa ‘health protocol’ na pinatutupad ng Inter-Agency Task Force sa kanilang paghahanda para sa tuluyang pagbabalik aksiyon.
Kasama si Mitra ng GAB Inspection Team, sa pamumuno ni GAB Medical Division Chief Dr. Radentor Viernes, sa pagbisita sa training facility, gymnasium at football field at personal na binigyan ng mataas na marka ang mga programa na ipinatupad ng Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Football League, mga boxing stables at combat sports training gym, gayundin ang kauna-unahang 3x3 pro league na Chooks-to-Go, sa kanilang hinay-hinay na pagbabalik ensayo.
“I’m happy with the responses of the different leagues because they themselves are very, very careful doing self regulation and there maybe some improvements on already what’s being done by the NBA. I think the Filipino ingenuity might come in and we might try to improve and adjust to the local situation,” pahayag ni Mitra.
Sa gitna na ipinapatupad na community quarantine dulot ng COVID-19 pandemic, patuloy ang pagtugon ng iba’t ibang organization at liga para mapaisailalim sa kapangyarihan at programa ng GAB.
“We have now 3x3 which is first in the country and chess also formed a professional group. Last Monday, nakipag-usap na rin sa atin ang organizers ng East Asia Super League which is set to open shop next month. Natutuwa naman kami sa GAB dahil nasusunod naman yung mga programa na binuo namin sa Joint Administrative Order (JAO) at kinatigan ng IATF,” sambit ng dating Palawan Governor at Congressman.
Ang EASL na may format na home-and-away league ay sanctioned din ng International Basketball Federation (FIBA). Tampok dito ang mga koponan mula sa China, South Korea, Japan at Pilipinas.
-Edwin Rollon