It’s not just the University Athletic Association of the Philippines that is looking to open up to its fans.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) is moving the scheduled game pitting celebrated arch-rivals Colegio de San Juan de Letran and San Beda University from April 12 to April 29 – the last day of the Season 97 Seniors Basketball elimination round.
The decision came about after the league and television partner GMA 7 saw the need to bring in spectators for one of the country’s top rivalries. This will be the first time the Red Lions and the Knights face off since Game Three of the Season 95 Finals.
“The NCAA Management Committee met Wednesday night, and together with GMA, we decided to hold the games of San Beda against Letran on the last day of the elimination round,” said Chairman Dax Castellano of College of Saint Benilde.
“The reason behind is we recognize the rivalry, and also it’s been a tradition that the two schools – because of that rivalry – clash during the last day of elimination round.”
As of the meeting, the game will still take place at La Salle Green Hills’ Saint Benilde Gym in Mandaluyong City.
Castellano, though, did not close his doors on possibly playing at a bigger venue like nearby Filoil Flying V Centre, the SMART Araneta Coliseum, the SM Mall of Asia Arena, or the Ynares Sports Arena.
“We’ll explore that possibility of increasing our guest list.”
The Letran-San Beda game will still happen at 3:00 PM. Meanwhile, opening that day’s festivities is a clash between Perpetual Help and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
Meanwhile, only one game will take place on April 12 as Jose Rizal University faces CSB at 3:00 PM.
