PBA postpones games for first week of January as NCR shifts to Alert Level 3

The Philippine Basketball Association on Monday announced that it will postpone its games scheduled for the first week of January.

In an advisory, the league said it will wait for the permission of the Games and Amusement Board before it continues the tournament.

"The league has already sent a letter to GAB on Monday and hopes to get a reply within a few days," the league said in a statement.

Aside from the GAB permission, the league said it still needs the approval of local government units where it will hold the games.

"Should the GAB allow the PBA to go ahead, a nod from the LGUs is still needed before it could conduct the games," it added.

The National Capital Region has been placed under Alert Level 3 from January 3 to 15 following the recent rise of COVID-19 infections. Contact sports are prohibited under Alert Level 3.

The Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok and Blackwater Bossing, and the Alaska Aces and Meralco Bolts are supposed to play in the league's return from the holiday break on January 5. The second conference of the PBA 3x3 is also supposed to commence on January 8.

Prior to Alert Level 3, a 50% capacity crowd has been allowed inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the playing venue of the PBA since December 15.

—JMB, GMA News