PBA bubble to cost P65 million

Philippine Basketball Association Chairman Ricky Vargas said the PBA semi-bubble to be built inside the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Pampanga will cost an estimated P65 million.

“The Commissioner has always stayed away from that question,” Vargas, the TNT KaTropa team governor, told former PBA commissioner Noli Eala during his “Power&Play” program on Saturday, referring to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. “But I’ll tell you; it’s close to P65 million. … The biggest part of the cost is the accommodation and the food, so we got a lot of discounts on the venue.”

Despite the huge cost, Vargas is grateful to the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone for making the testing free.

“Thanks to Clark, even the testing is for free and it could be more than that.”

Vargas initially refused to reveal the estimated cost of the bubble during an earlier news conference on Thursday.

The NBA bubble at Disneyland in Orlando, Florida is reportedly worth $150 million.

In the PBA semi-bubble, the players, coaches, staff and media will be housed in Quest Hotel for two months while the games are being held at the Angeles University Foundation gym, 10 minutes away from Clark.

Vargas added recreation facilities will be available, among these a golf course, a gym and entertainment centers to keep the well-being of the players.

Participants will enter the bubble on September 26, and the resumption of Philippine Cup Season 45 is set on October 9.

The games will be compressed to 49 gamedays double header. The elimination round will be a single-round robin format and the top four teams will secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. The semifinals and finals will employ a best-of-five and best-of-seven formats, respectively.