The Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) will continue to follow the health and safety protocols of the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) set by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Department of Health (DOH).

This was the assurance of the WNBL as it denied reports that it violated protocols by allowing Glutagence coach Justin Chua to call the shots for the team against the Taguig Lady Generals at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga last Oct 31.

Chua also coached 7A Primus in the Filbasket at the Subic Bay gym a few hours later.

In a statement signed by NBL-Pilipinas chairman/president Celso Mercado, executive vice president Rhose Montreal and vice president for basketball operations Edward Aquino, the WNBL said it has been relgiously following the guidelines in the JAO as approved by GAB.

“The Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), a duly-organized professional sports league sanctioned and supervised by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), hereby refute and deny allegations made towards besmirching the name and reputation of our organization,” said the WNBL.

“As per WNBL protocols prior to the game, all teams involved, league staff, broadcast team as well as other stakeholders underwent a swab test as a condition to their admission inside the playing venue.”

“Head Coach Justin Anthony Tan of the Glow Boosters passed the test and was allowed to perform his duties during the game.”

“The current WNBL bubble and its protocols have been in effect and strictly adhered to since the league opened its season July 18, 2021.

“While it is submitted that ideally participants should maintain moving only between their residence, practices and official games, the WNBL has trust in all that they will follow health and safety protocols and will be allowed to participate as long as they register a negative result on game day.”

The WNBL also said all athletes and officials including WNBL personnel signed a waiver that they will comply with the league’s health and safety protocols while “being aware of the possible sanctions in case of non-compliance including but not limited to expulsion of the league.”

“We condemn our league’s good name being dragged into controversies in other sporting competitions which we are not a participant.”

The controversy stemmed from reports that coach Tan called the shots for both the WNBL in San Fernando, Pampanga and Filbasket in Subic on the same day.

Pro league WNBL-Pilipinas follows a closed-circuit format wherein participants can go home but have to undergo testing before entering the game venue. Players and team officials are also tested days prior to competition by their respective teams.

Filbasket, on the other hand, follows a full bubble setup of hotel-venue-hotel.