Philippines, 19 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


First case of Covid-19 hit PBA


PhilBoxing.com




The fate of the PBA referee found to be positive to Covid-19 virus following an antigen test on Wednesday will be known Friday or Saturday.

The referee, whose identity remained anonymous, meanwhile, was taken out of the Quest Hotel where the entire 300-man PBA delegation is billeted, and transferred to the Clark athletes’ village for the usual 14-day quarantine isolation and re-testing.

Said game official was one of the three-man crew that worked on the Alaska Aces and Blackwater Elite game of the on-going PBA 2020 Philippine Cup on Tuesday, was scheduled to undergo the more rigorous RT-PCR test yesterday.

“We have to wait two or three days pa bago lumabas ang resulta ng test,” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial told THE MANILA TIMES Thursday morning in a telephone interview. “So, bukas o Sabado pa natin malalaman kung ano susunod nating hakbang.”

Marcial expressed hopes, though, the official will pass the test as he did in several tests he underwent before arriving at the bubble early this month.

The referee was tested on Oct. 19 along with 27 others whose tests all came back negative Tuesday, the league Commissioner recalled. “He had previously tested negative three times, twice before entering the bubble and once after.”

Marcial, along with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) said in a joint statement, the latest finding could be a case of “false positive.”

Such observation was shared by Dr. George Canlas, the PBA adviser on the bubble, who said in a text message to this writer: “May I suggest we wait for the results of the swab test done yesterday. All indications point. (though), to a “false positive.”

“Nevertheless , we're still asking all concerned to take all the needed precautions for the good of everybody,” Marcial stressed, adding team officials of both Alaska and Blackwater had also requested that players of both squad be, likewise, undergo testing.

No decision on the request has been taken, though, as of this writing.

Despite this development, the CDC has given the PBA clearance to proceed with the remaining games inside the bubble, Marcial bared. “Stricter measures, of course, have been set in place for implementation.”

This is the first time since lockdown in all sport activities were banned that the country’s first play-for-pay league has been affected by the spread of virus.

In the meantime, what was left of the seven referees in the pool will be tasked to officiate back-to-back games each playing days. An additional two to three from Manila will reinforce the pool.

"Siguro, we’ll assign three referees to enter the floor during games so the alternate referee can officiate in the second game. We're pacing the officials, too," Marcial said.

All activities inside the hotel, including the use of the swimming pool and the gym has been suspended . Even jogging will temporarily be stopped to give way to disinfecting.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea of The Manila Times.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: A wonderful spectacle in Las Vegas
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • TRAINER OF THE YEAR BOB SANTOS TO MAKE BROADCASTING DEBUT AT BOXLAB PROMOTIONS' “NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS” ON SEPTEMBER 19
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Five Boxers Closed Fights Early via RSC During Wednesday’s Competition
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • “Thrilla” card takes shape
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Wishing Best to Jayson Vayson in his World Title Challenge!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Vayson aims to make history
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Day Two of 2025 USA Boxing National Open Delivers 108 Action-Packed Bouts in Tulsa
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Bryce Mills Boxes James Bernadin At del Lago Resort & Casino On Thursday, Oct. 30, in Waterloo, NY
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Caribbean Clash Returns Friday, November 7th at Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale, Florida
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • VM Sotto, City Council Recognize GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Larida is Southern Coach of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • D.C. Knockout Artist Scooter Davis Signs Promotional Contract with Top Rank
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Smarts over power
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.