DECEMBER 22 OPENING NG NBA, LUMABO; PLAYERS ‘DI PUMAYAG

BILANG tugon sa proposed NBA 72-game schedule na target ng liga para sa 2020-21 regular season, kasama na rito ang pagsisimula sa Dec. 22, isiniwalat ni National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) executive director Michele Roberts na karamihan sa manlalaro ay kumontra sa plano.

Ayon kay Roberts, nire-review nila nang husto ang pro- posal at nangangamba itong walang mabubuong desisyon ngayong Linggo.

“We have requested and are receiving data from the parties involved and will work on a counterproposal as expeditiously as possible,” ani Roberts.

“I have absolutely no reason to believe that we will have a decision by Friday. I cannot and will not view Friday as a drop-dead date.”

Gusto umano ng miyembro ng NBA Board of Governors ng posibilidad ng maigsing free agency period kasunod ng Nov. 18 draft at ang training camps ay magsisimula sa Dec. 1.

Nais ng NBA na maagang masimulan ang liga para makabawi sa naging lugi nila ngayong season.

Hindi naman pumayag ang ibang manlalaro sa plano ng liga dahil malaki umano ang naging sakripisyo nila sa paglalaro sa bubble kaya kailangan nilang ng mas mahabang pahinga.

“Our players deserve the right to have some runway so that they can plan for a start that soon,” ani Roberts.

“The overwhelming response from the players that I have received to this proposal has been negative.”