SUBIC — Basilan-Jumbo Plastic lambasted the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League’s decision to default their South Division Finals knockout match against Davao Occidental-Cocolife, Tuesday.
“Basilan Steel is greatly disappointed with the decision of the MPBL Management committee in defaulting our Division Finals game against Davao Occidental,” the statement read.
The league decision came after four members of the Steel delegation tested positive for COVID-19 in the re-swab done on March 15.
The squad underwent a seven-day quarantine after two of their players found out they tested positive.
Then the MPBL decided that even just one positive test in the re-swab would mean an automatic defeat for Basilan to avoid compromising the safety of the Subic bubble.
The management also demanded the MPBL “implement its own protocol signed by its medical team that if someone tested positive in the bubble, there would be a postponement of games until the team is ready to play.”
Alongside the statement was the protocol in place if someone shows any signs and symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, according to the league’s rules and regulations for the bubble.
However, the specific section does not cite what will happen if another member of a team tests positive after a seven-day quarantine.
With the decision to let the Tigers automatically get the victory, the Steel felt they were sacrificial lambs.
“We feel that our team has sacrificed just for the sake of finishing the season.
“We are asking for reconsideration from the MPBL and directly to Senator Manny Pacquiao not just for us but for the integrity of our league,” the statement continued.
Basilan also disputed that they asked for a re-swab for their players who tested positive earlier today, but their plea “fell on deaf ears”.
To end their statement, the management said they came into the bubble for the delight of their fans and to decide the South Division Finals on the basketball court.
“We are here because of our fans so we owe everything to them… The future of our league depends on this. Let the games be decided on the basketball court and not by COVID.”
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