MPBL calls off 2021 season to focus on finishing the Lakan Playoffs

It was a big blow not just basketball, but to the Filipino sporting community as a whole when the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) announced it was suspending the 2020-21 season, owing to numerous repercussions of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country.

This was confirmed in a memo to all teams by commissioner Kenneth Duremdes in which they cited not just the current health crisis, but also other matters in relation to the government-imposed lockdown, including the brazen shutdown of broadcast partner ABS-CBN which even complicated matters.

Its fourth season was supposed to tip off on June 12, but with the current situation owing to the quarantine imposed by the national government, the MPBL had already conceded that it will just push back its new season by 2021.

The league instead will prioritize the conclusion of the Lakan Season playoffs, wherein both division finals (San Juan-Makati in the North, Davao Occidental-Basilan in the South) went to distance before halting play on March 14.
However, it was also stated in the memo that it will be held behind closed doors and with just one venue, provided that they will take measures in line with the state regulations on contact sports and other things which were deemed as mass events, things that were forbidden not just in the enhanced level, but also in the general quarantine category.

Furthermore, the MPBL has a protracted preseason tournament in which teams have an option to join to prepare for the pushed back fourth season.

With that in mind, Duremdes also reminds all teams to stay put as it has not just barred them from taking a leave of absence, but also give their players under contracts at least 20% of their allowances.

Photo: Harold Biado/San Juan Knights (file)