MANILA - The players of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) are determined to follow the protocols put together by the league as they await the official go-signal to return to practices.

The league put all of its activities on hold last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, halting the All-Filipino Cup after just one game. Only the Finals rematch between San Miguel and Magnolia was played on March 8, with the Beermen winning 94-78.

Since then, the players have been inactive for more than four months -- a period longer than most PBA offseasons.

"We want to get back on that court and get to playing basketball, the game that we love," said TNT veteran Ryan Reyes during an appearance on the "Crossover" podcast, presented by SMART.

"With all this, we just wanna start and play soon. Hopefully … the government lets us this time. Like everyone of these guys, I'm just anxious to start playing again," he added.

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The PBA had received the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for teams to resume training last July 3, but Commissioner Willie Marcial is still waiting for official documents from the agency and the Games and Amusements Board before he formally allows teams to practice again.

All teams also have to be tested for COVID-19 before training can resume.

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The hope is that the All-Filipino Cup can resume at some point later this year. Marcial plans to write again to the IATF in August, this time to ask permission for scrimmages to take place. The Board of Governors will then meet that month to determine if the season can still be salvaged, or if it will have to be canceled.

For the players, they are aware of their responsibility when it comes to following the protocols put together by the league.

"We're all ready to get back, and we just have to be responsible," said TNT veteran Harvey Carey. "Follow rules, do everything we need to do in order to keep not just ourselves safe, but everyone around us safe."

"As long as we do that, I think we'll be able to start real soon. Get some action going," he added.

PBA guidelines only allow for four players, one coach, and one safety officer in each practice session. Players also have to maintain a "closed circuit," meaning they have to go from their house to their car and to the training venue, and back again. They have to keep track of their movements in a log book that will be inspected by the league.

Teams will be tested every ten days.

"We're all anxious and excited to be able to play again," Meralco forward Nico Salva said. "I'm sure we all kept ourselves ready, and I'm sure the PBA is doing everything they can to be able to resume games."

"Whenever we can get back to action, then we'll be ready," he added.

NLEX guard Kiefer Ravena, who was hoping to play his first full season as a professional, said the players are "hoping for the best."

"We're all itching to play… most of the PBA, we're excited to give entertainment to the people and look forward to watching every night, just to get their minds out of what's happening in our society," he said.

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