WAKE UP CALL. Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Willie Marcial gives an update on the suspected Covid-19 case during a press conference at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center on Wednesday night (Oct. 21, 2020). Marcial said the PBA referee who was tested positive for Covid-19 but later turned out negative through antigen test, is a wake-up call not to let their guards down. (Photo courtesy of PBA Images)
MANILA – Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Willie Marcial remains surprised that a referee would contract the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) despite the string of previous negative results he got before he entered the Angeles bubble.
"Yun ang pinagtatakahan namin... kahit yung mga doctor (That is what we are wondering right now, even the doctors)," Marcial said in a press conference late Wednesday night following the conclusion of the league's scheduled doubleheader at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.
The referee got his result on Tuesday after he and 28 others underwent mandatory swab testing. Marcial was alerted to the surprise positive result.
However, after an antigen testing at the Athlete's Village in Capas on Wednesday, the referee got a negative result, prompting Marcial to make a conjecture that the swab testing gave a "false positive".
Despite the somewhat good news, Marcial vowed that the league will become more cautious from now on.
"Wake-up call sa atin ito na huwag tayong masyadong relaxed. Kailangang sundin natin ang mga protocols: mask, shield, alcohol, linis ng katawan. Kailangan nating mag-ingat (This is a wake-up call for us that we should not be too relaxed. We need to follow the protocols: mask, shield, alcohol, and the cleanliness in our bodies. We need to be careful)," he said.
While the name of the referee was not announced, it was revealed that he was one of the officials who worked in the Alaska-Blackwater game on Tuesday night.
The Aces and the Elite were to undergo swab testing on Thursday.
Both teams have scheduled games for the day.
Blackwater is facing TNT in a game ongoing as of posting, while Alaska takes on Rain Or Shine later Thursday.
On the other hand, Marcial said that with seven other referees in isolation as well, the referees who handled the doubleheader on Wednesday night may need to do extra work possibly until Sunday night.
With Sherwin Pineda ordered to exit from the bubble after an officiating blunder in the Rain Or Shine-NorthPort game on Sunday night that affected its outcome, only seven referees worked on Wednesday night.
One of them, Jeffrey Tantay, even had to work for both games.
However, Marcial said that additional referees have been called to enter the bubble.
"Pinapapunta ko na yung two to three referees na makaakyat na dito sa [Clark] (I asked two to three referees to come here in Clark)," he said.
However, they will not be immediately deployed as they will still have to undergo swab testing and self-quarantine. (PNA)
