By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

CONCERNS over the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak have taken their toll on the local sporting scene with a number of scheduled events being postponed.

Citing the highly contagious nature of the COVID-19, which has already affected many countries, including the Philippines, sports stakeholders have deemed it fit to heed advisories of local health officials to defer staging events that would gather large crowds to prevent the further spread of the disease.

The Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee are one in highlighting safety and precaution amid COVID-19 and are fully supportive of the move to cancel or suspend sport activities.

“We must always put the safety of athletes, coaches, officials and spectators at the very top of our priorities.We therefore urge all National Sports Associations and other groups associated with the POC, to heed the call for prudence and await official announcements from appropriate agencies with regards this issue,” said POC president Abraham Tolentino in an official statement on the issue shared to members of media on Feb. 14.

Adding, “We also enjoin everyone to take the necessary precautions amidst this growing health concern.”

The POC statement came on the heels of the PSC’s move to postpone events it manages.

“We are taking this very seriously. We have been listening to what the World Health Organization is saying about the virus and we took that into consideration,” said PSC chairman William Ramirez.

Among PSC-managed events postponed were the National Sports Summit scheduled for later this month, the Philippine National Games in May and big seminars that would involve 40 or more participants.

It also moved to postpone the ASEAN Para Games, which was officially deferred last week after consultations between the Philippine Paralympic Committee and the ASEAN Federation.

It marked the second time that the event for differently abled athletes had been postponed.

The ASEAN Para Games, which usually happens immediately after the Southeast Asian Games, was scheduled to take place from Jan. 18 to 25 this year but was deferred to March 20 to 28 because of lack of funds on the part of the PSC, which was tasked to fund the event.

The event is being targeted to be held in May.

The Palarong Pambansa which is to be hosted by Marikina City in May, however, is still a go for now.

COLLEGIATE SPORTS
The COVID-19 has also made collegiate leagues to make changes to its calendars of events.

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) moved the opening of its marquee volleyball tournament to a still-to-be-determined date in accordance with the advice of health officials.

“The University Athletic Association of the Philippines upholds, in the highest regard, the well-being, health and safety of the League’s community — players, coaches, students, their families and fans in general,” said the league’s statement on the postponement, which was co-signed by UAAP President Emmanuel Fernandez and Executive Director Rene Saguisag, Jr.

It added, “In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the UAAP, after thorough deliberation by the Board of Trustees and the Board of Managing Directors, have come to a decision to postpone all sporting events starting Saturday, 15 February.”

The UAAP Season 82 volleyball tournament was supposed to fire off last Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Also postponed were the men’s football tournament which was set to begin on Feb. 16, softball tournament (Feb. 17), seniors baseball tournament (Feb. 19), athletics (Feb. 19–23), and judo (last week of February).

Following suit was the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which suspended indefinitely all seniors division games beginning Feb. 14, including the ongoing volleyball tournament.

HOOPS, TOO
Basketball matches scheduled for the next two weeks were also moved.

The Philippine Basketball Association is now set to open Season 45 on March 8, a week later than originally scheduled.

It also moved the opening of the PBA D-League to March 2 from Feb. 13.

The first home game of Gilas Pilipinas in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup was postponed as well.

Gilas was to meet Thailand in a Group A match on Feb. 20 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

World-governing body FIBA made the announcement on Friday.

The Philippines’s next game, which is an away assignment against Indonesia on Feb. 23, is being assessed by the latter as of this writing in light of the ongoing health concern.

Shelved as of the moment is the cycling event PRURide PH 2020, which was scheduled to take place from March 11–15 at Mimosa Drive, Clark, Pampanga.

Ronda Pilipinas, meanwhile, is still a go to date. The 10-stage cycling event is set to roll out on Feb. 23 in Sorsogon.

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