MPBL Finals to push thru: The Right Call

Since President Rodrigo Duterte recently announced the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in high-risk cities and provinces until May 15, 2020, that begs the question: will the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) still push thru with the remainder of its playoffs? 

The thing is: the National Basketball Association (NBA) is still looking to jump straight into the playoffs sometime around June while the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)  is looking into the possibility of going back to a two-conference format or even a stretched all-Filipino conference. While the collegiate leagues have already canceled the remainder of the second-semester events for the school year 2019-2020, MPBL fans can sleep soundly at night knowing that the MPBL playoffs will return. It's only the question of when. 

That is according to MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes whose sentiment is the same as that of MPBL founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Manny Pacquiao.

A few days back, Commissioner Duremdes ended speculations regarding the question as to whether or the league will return with the final game of each division finals and of course, the national finals as he assured the fans that the league has no plan to cancel the playoffs adding that they are just waiting for the go-signal from the national government. 

Is it the right call for the league?

MPBL management made the right call not to cancel the playoffs because the playoffs are almost finished and we're only waiting for the winners from both divisions to slug it out in the finals. It would be a waste of time, effort, and energy not just from the teams, but canceling the playoffs will hurt the fans who waited this long. After all, the MPBL is "the league of every Filipino."

Yes, the league also made the right call not to scratch the playoffs entirely as long as they will do it the right way. And as Kenneth Duremdes mentioned, they will resume games after the ECQ is lifted whether it's after May 15 or on a later date. And yes, they will play said games behind-closed-doors. They will also make the necessary adjustments for the four remaining teams and for the local government units of San Juan, Makati, Davao Occidental, and Basilan.   

MPBL fans can be assured that the league will return as soon as the situation allows them to do so. It's only the question of when more importantly, it's better than being cancelled altogether. 

Photo is from ABS CBN News