The Battle of Katipunan extended to the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The first-ever UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals face-off between the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons was a box office hit.
Almost 21,608 fans wearing either blue or maroon attended the game inside the 20,000-seater arena in Pasay City.
This is the record this season, eclipsing the 20,944 fans who trooped the SMART Araneta Coliseum last Wednesday during the knockout game between UP and the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
Even if the tickets were already sold out Saturday morning, plenty of fans tested their luck to try and secure standing-room-only seats.
Game Two of the series takes place at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
