PBA: Player who tested positive now has negative antigen test result

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) said the player who earlier tested positive for COVID-19 has received a negative antigen test result.

"Just earlier, he was tested through antigen, and a negative result was out," PBA Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro said in a press conference held on Sunday. The player, who is with Blackwater Elite, also underwent RT-PCR swab test and the result is expected on Monday.

Asked if the player is in a similar situation as the referee who tested positive at first then received negative results in antigen and RT-PCR tests, Castro said, "It's similar and we're hoping to get the same results."

PBA medical consultant George Canlas maintained that the referee was negative for COVID-19 all throughout his stay in the PBA bubble.

"Ang nangyari sa referee, he was never clinically positive for a virus," Canlas said. "To dispel the myth, hindi naging positive 'yung referee. He was negative the whole time, so intact ang bubble natin," he added.

Bases and Conversion Development Authority CEO and COVID-19 testing czar Vince Dizon said the referee will be allowed to reenter the bubble after his isolation period, but will undergo another round of protocols, including the mandatory swab test. "Kailangan talaga protektahan natin ang integrity ng bubble dahil pag ginawa natin 'yun, masisiguro nating safe ang ating players and coaches," said Dizon.

While the DOH said swab tests are the gold standard for COVID-19 testing, Canlas said antigen tests reinforce the swab test.

"The antigen test, as initially said, the sensitivity is not as good as PCR, which is true, but the studies of UCSF (University of California SF) have proven na may algorithm sila na in an area of a very low prevalence, [like] we have a bubble [na] bago sila pumasok negative sila, and constant testing, the antigen test approaches the effectivity of PCR swab. Our PCR swab is still the golden measure," explained Canlas. "Having an antigen test actually reinforces each other na pag nakita nating negative, siguardong negative sila," he added.

Canlas also reported that the close contacts of the said referee were found negative for COVID-19 both on antigen and swab tests. Castro added that all league staff, hotel staff, and media delegates who went for a swab test last Thursday were negative for COVID-19.

With the positive result of the Blackwater player, the league decided to postpone the supposed match between the Elite and Rain or Shine at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon as part of prevention measures. The second match between Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra is ongoing. — BM, GMA News