PBA bubble in Clark to cost around ₱65M, says chairman Ricky Vargas

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas finally answered the long-standing question regarding the cost of the planned bubble for the season restart at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

“The commissioner has always stayed away from that question. But I’ll tell you, it’s close to ₱65 million that will cost us,” disclosed Vargas during an interview with former league chief Noli Eala in the program Power & Play.

Willie Marcial and members of the board had earlier refused to divulge how much the league will spend on an enclosed environment similar to the NBA bubble in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida.

Vargas added that food and accommodation will comprise bulk of the cost which would’ve been much higher if not for the generous discounts and the free testing extended by New Clark City.

“Ang pinakamalaking parte sa cost is the accommodation and the food. But we got a lot of discounts at the venue. And in fact, thanks to Clark, even the testing now is for free. It could have been more than that,” said the TNT KaTropa representative.

The league, through Marcial, had earlier expressed gratitude to Vince Dizon, president and CEO of the Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), and National Action Plan against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer, and Noel Manankil, president and CEO of Clark Development Corp., for their roles in setting up the league bubble in Clark.