AFTER an extended wait, the Mindanao leg of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup finally took off on Wednesday in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Initially penciled for June, the league had to reconsider its original tournament calendar as it awaited the approval to start from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
The nod came on Tuesday, following the league’s submission of regulatory requirements, including health screening, drug testing, and other related documents.
The VisMin Super Cup Mindanao leg, which is presented by Chooks-to-Go, kicked off with a double-header.
ALZA Alayon Zamboanga Del Sur and Basilan Peace Riders got the action going at 1:00 p.m. at the Ipil Provincial Gym in Ipil Heights, followed by the clash between the Kapatagan Buffalo Braves and the Iligan City Archangels at 3 p.m.
The Mindanao leg got the green light to start since Zamboanga Sibugay is under General Community Quarantine where it is now allowed under existing guidelines but under a strict “bubble” setup with no live audience.
Participants are required to limit their movement to home-venue-home throughout the duration of the tournament. All teams and officials are billeted in Pagadian City — a three-hour ride to Ipil.
Organizers, however, plan to move the competition to Plaza Luz in Pagadian City if quarantine restrictions are further eased by July 15.
Games in Ipil will take place on July 7, 8, 9, 11, and 13.
Other teams competing in the Mindanao Leg are the Roxas Vanguards, the Pagadian Explorers, the Clarin Sto. Nino, the MisOr Brew Authoritea, and the Zamboanga City JPS.
“We are just happy that Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay accepted us without hesitation as we tip off our Mindanao leg,” said Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Chief Operating Officer Rocky Chan in a statement.
The VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Leg comes after the Visayas part of the tournament which was completed in May. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo