A Closed-Circuit Format for PBA's 46th Season: A Good Choice (?)

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has just exited the Clark bubble where the league completed the 2020 Philippine Cup as the lone conference for its 45th season. With the league targeting an April 2021 opening for its 46th season, this begs the question: Will it be inside a bubble again?

For PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, "If the vaccine is not yet available, we’ll likely go for closed-circuit (format),"

The ongoing 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic forced the league to resume the all-Filipino conference inside a bubble in October but prior to that, the teams had to resume team practices in a closed-circuit. While vaccines for the said virus are said to be on the way with both the United States and the United Kingdom reported having started vaccinations, vaccination in the Philippines is still a big question which made the PBA consider to go for a closed-circuit for year 46. Of course, that can change if and when the Philippine government is ready for the mass vaccination and that, the league still has enough time to make the necessary adjustments.

What makes the closed-circuit a good choice for the PBA?  

A closed-circuit format is a less-lenient set-up compared to the bubble set-up. Compared to a bubble set-up where everyone is staying in one place, a closed-circuit format is not a lockdown. It requires participants to maintain a home-venue-home routine while strictly following the health and safety protocols. It offers more "flexibility" for everyone involved which can help them maintain not just their physical health but also their mental health. 

For two and a half months, everyone who entered the Clark bubble has to be away from their family which saw some struggle with mental health issues. Even Commissioner Marcial admitted, "I saw that the players were having difficulties especially during the first months," With a closed-circuit format, players and coaches can see their respective families after each game  

While April 2021 is still down the road and many can still happen between December 2020 and April 2021, everyone will be playing the wait-and-see game. For one, this isn't the first time the PBA considered taking the closed-circuit format to play an entire conference. It now depends on when the COVID-19 vaccine will be ready here in the Philippines. 

Photo is from PBA