Blackwater Elite Coach Nash Racela (L) and NLEX Road Warriors player Kiefer Ravena are all smiles as they play golf at the Filinvest Mimosa Plus Leisure City golf course within the PBA Clark bubble. (Source: Quest Plus Conference Center, Clark)
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) expressed its appreciation to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) for the bubble set-up in Clark, Pampanga, which made the long-awaited restart of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup possible.
“So far, everything is okay; and very cooperative ang Quest (Hotel) I must say. As we move along, we learn and as we learn, they are also adjusting. Their openness to adjust is very good,” said PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas.
The 350 delegates of the PBA are billeted at the Quest Plus Conference Center located within the Mimosa Plus estate in Clark. Players like Magnolia Hotshots’ Paul Lee and Rafi Reavis, Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga, and Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson have praised the quality of food served by the hotel’s kitchen staff.
“Karamihan ng teams, may nutritionists at iba-iba ang gusto nilang pagkain,” said Vargas. “We’re very happy that it is not just one meal for everybody. You are adjusting to their requests; we are very happy and thankful that you are doing that.”
Vargas, PLDT Chairman Manuel Pangilinan and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio recently met virtually with BCDA President and CEO Vince Dizon and Vice President for Business Development Arrey Perez, and CDC President and CEO Noel Manankil.
During the meeting, Vargas also said that allowing the PBA bubble delegates to play golf is “very helpful” as the players and coaches find ways to entertain themselves during the season. The Filinvest Mimosa Plus Leisure City golf course is exclusive for PBA bubble delegates every Monday.
Dizon, for his part, said the PBA bubble set-up would set the standards for other possible sports bubbles in Clark.
“We’ll set the standard there so that for the subsequent bubbles, we will just keep getting better at it,” he said.
The Clark bubble observes strict health measures and protocols to ensure that all participants are kept safe throughout the 45th season.
Delegates are required to use the StaySafe.PH contact tracing application so that their movement within the bubble may easily be monitored. They will also undergo swab testing every two weeks.
The 2020 PBA Philippine Cup officially resumed Sunday, October 11, and will run until mid-December.
