GAB Looks to Professionalize More Leagues

2020 saw the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) granting local leagues to operate as professional leagues. They did it with the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) which happens to be the first professional women's league in the Philippines. GAB also granted professional league status to Pilipinas 3x3 Presented by Chooks-to-Go, Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), and the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). 

2021 will see more leagues in the Philippines turn professional as long as they follow strict health and safety protocols for the Philippines is still battling 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). That is according to GAB Chairman Abraham Mitra.

Since professional leagues are only allowed to operate during the current general community quarantine, a number of amateur leagues decided to turn professional.

Mitra acknowledged, “Although we are advocating the policy of self-regulation among our professional sports associations, we are still thankful to all the leaders of these organizations for recognizing the value of government regulations over the conduct of sports,"

Some of the leagues that are expected to turn professional are the Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR), Juego Togo, another basketball league in the form of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, and a table tennis league.  

Photo is from Journal Online