MANILA, Philippines – Staying in shape has become a challenge for PBA players as teams stopped practicing since the league shut down its operations in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Used to a year-long season grind, PBA players like Ravena have ended up just shooting hoops and training at their own homes the past months. Phoenix holds online workouts thrice a week and Panlilio said he can only bank on the players being honest in the execution of drills. "They have time to study themselves, they can watch their game films. They can reset themselves and they can put themselves in a mind state that when they come back, they can work on this and that."
Ravena, who spent a year away from competitive basketball due to an 18-month suspension from FIBA, said when players don't get to do their usual activities, it affects their timing and rhythm. "It is their responsibility to stay in shape because they are athletes and it is their job to stay in shape," Panlilio said.