MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed the Philippines’ hosting of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup Qualifiers in Clark, Pampanga in June this year, Malacañang announced on Friday.
This developed after members of the IATF-EID on Thursday approved the request of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to host the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in June this year under a “bubble-type” setting, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.
Roque, who also serves as the IATF-EID spokesperson, said the hosting of FIBA qualifiers would be subject to health and safety protocols.
“The testing and quarantine protocols of arriving foreign participants shall be subject to the FIBA-required protocols as presented, to the extent applicable, without prejudice to the entry travel restrictions,” according to Resolution 114 issued by the IATF-EID on Thursday.
Under the resolution, all non-player participants not covered by FIBA rules, whether foreign or local, are mandated to self-isolate upon arrival in the venue and undertake reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing on their sixth day before their release.
“The designated hotels within the bubble shall not accept other guests outside of the FIBA participants,” the resolution read.
The Philippine Sports Commission, as the national government agency with the visitorial and supervisory authority, has been directed to “assume responsibility for monitoring and supervising the compliance of the health and safety protocols of the event,” based on the IATF-EID Resolution 114.
FIBA announced last month that the Philippines will be the host for the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Teams from Groups A, B, and C will play their window matches in a bubble setting in Clark, Pampanga from June 16 to 20.
Group A is composed of the Philippines, Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia, Group B includes Chinese Taipei, Japan, Malaysia, and China, and Group C is comprised of Australia, New Zealand, Guam, and Hong Kong.
Meantime, Roque said the IATF-EID has also allowed the conduct of scrimmages and practice of the Philippine Basketball Association in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ (MGCQ), “subject to proper health and safety protocols.” (PNA)
