The PBA has secured the SM Mall of Asia Arena should the ongoing Governors’ Cup Finals series between Meralco and Ginebra go to a Game Seven.
This means that plans to bring the deciding match, penciled on April 22, at the colossal Philippine Arena in Bulacan will no longer push through.
“Um-okay si MOA sa atin,” Commissioner Willie Marcial told Tiebreaker Times Monday, shortly after issuing the latest sked of the title bout.
The fifth-year league chieftain disclosed the possibility of playing Game Seven in Bocaue during the pre-Finals press conference last April 4. This is if neither the MOA Arena nor the SMART Araneta Coliseum are available.
Located at Ciudad de Victoria, the world’s largest indoor venue is best known to have housed 54, 086 fans for Game Seven of the 2017 Governors’ Cup Finals. That match-up saw the Gin Kings nip the Bolts, 101-96, to defend their crown.
The last time that the PBA played at the Philippine Arena was in January 2019 for the 44th season opener, together with the Leo Awards.
They have shelved returning to the venue for now, but Marcial is hoping to do so next season, which they target to open on June 5.
“Any time, pwede tayo roon,” said the amiable executive, who’s grateful for the support of the PH Arena brass.
“Sana talaga, makabalik ulit tayo roon.”
Still, the league can’t go wrong with the MOA Arena, where it has enjoyed record crowds amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Game Three on Sunday night at the said venue drew 16,104 fans, the largest attendance since the 23,111 that witnessed the 2019 season-opener.
The semis double-header last March 27 – featuring Meralco-Magnolia and Ginebra-NLEX matches – also held there welcomed 13,272.
“‘Yung naramdaman ko three years ago, naramdaman ulit natin,” said Marcial of those attendances.
“Iba pa rin talaga ‘yung pagmamahal ng Pilipino sa basketball. Talagang nakakatuwa na makita ‘yung ganun.”
Games Five and, if necessary, Six will be played at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
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