PBA to discourage high fives, fist bumps, bro hugs inside Clark bubble

Player interactions such as high fives, fist bumps and bro hugs may be a thing of the past – at least while inside the bubble in Clark, Pampanga where the league hopes to finish the 2020 Philippine Cup.

That is because the league will be discouraging such gestures as part of the strict health protocols which are put in place in order to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection and ensure a smooth season restart.

“Meron tayong strict protocols na ipinagbabawal natin yung more physical contact apart from the game play. Kunwari yung mga high five, iniiwasan natin yon,” stressed deputy chief implementer of the National Action Plan against COVID and Bases Conversion and Development Authority chief Vince Dizon during the press conference at Quest Hotel last Tuesday.

“It’s very difficult in the heat of the moment, in the excitement of the moment, mahirap talaga. But at least the players know na it’s discouraged. It’s like us in the new normal, in this pandemic, it’s like always thinking of not shaking hands and do an elbow bump instead,” he added.

League commissioner Willie Marcial, however, said that no penalties will be imposed on violators.

“Sa una pagsasabihan muna natin na iwasan. Pero alam mo naman pag buzzer beater, hindi ba mae-excite yun? So pipilitin natin na wag nilang gawin. Wala namang penalties yun, pero yun nga, kasi nasa protocol yan, susundin po namin yan,” said the amiable executive.

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