The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has shortlisted three hotels for its plans to have its own bubble

The PBA Board of Governors had meeting last Friday to talk about the plans for the desired bubble. According to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, 20 hotels presented their proposals hoping to have the chance to help the league resume this disappointing year.

Marcial stated that 13 Hotels from Manila and six hotels from the province showed their proposals earlier. Out of the 20 hotels however, four hotels showed a presentation to the Board.

“Nag bigay ng proposals ang 20 hotels. Anim na provincial and 13 na Manila based hotels ang nag present. Nag present kanina is yung El Nido ng Ayala Group, Marriott (Hotels) Pasay, (Hotel) Pontefino ng Batangas at Clark Pampanga, sila yung mga nag present and yung iba nilatag yung mga proposals nila,” he said in a phone call interview.

The Head Honcho of the league revealed as well that the option to have the PBA bubble in Dubai was taken out of the picture because of the time constraints but he did offer a different event for them.

“Dubai, seryoso sila kaso sabi ko kulang na sa oras. Pero sabi ko bigyan na lang natin sila ng All-star and gusto nila dun,” he said

Aside from deciding on what hotel should they pick, the Board also tackled on what kind of bubble the PBA should have. Their three options are a bubble like in the NBA, a bubble where in everyone involved will stay in one hotel or the closed-circuit bubble, where in everyone involved will have strict route from their homes to the venue.

“We also presented different kinds of bubble. One, tulad nung bubble ng NBA. Two, bubble na hotel to venue. Three is yung closed circuit bubble na venue to home. May meeting ule on Thursday kasi may nag shortlist na ng tatlong hotels tapos pag uusapan naming kung anong klaseng bubble, anong hotel and anong format,” he stated.

The PBA Board will have another meeting on Thursday to come up with a final decision for the bubble.

Marcial is very optimistic that the PBA will be able to make its return this season despite what’s been happening this year. He stated that the comments that he made last April about the chances of the league’s return still stands.

“Malaki yung chances talaga. Sabi ko nung April nung tinanong ako, anong chances na makabalik ang PBA, from scale of 1-10 sabi ko 70 and ganun pa din yung paniniwala ko.”