The PBA could return to the Philippine Arena soon.
Commissioner Willie Marcial disclosed that the league is mulling playing the 2022 Governors’ Cup Finals featuring the Meralco-Ginebra tetralogy.
That, however, may only happen should the series reach a Game Seven, and neither SMART Araneta Coliseum nor Mall of Asia Arena is available.
“Kung hindi pupwede ang Araneta at MoA sa Game Seven, Philippine Arena tayo maglalaro,” he said in the pre-Finals presser Tuesday at Novotel Araneta.
Should that take place, it would be the league’s return to the mega venue since Game Seven of the 2017 Governors’ Cup Finals between the same teams.
It was that game where a record 54,086 fans trooped to Bocaue and witnessed the Gin Kings nip the Bolts, 101-96, for their second title in a row.
The PBA has been enjoying success thus far in terms of crowd attendance since fully opening its gates upon the imposition of Alert Level 1 in NCR.
The league welcomed 13,272 fans in a twinbill Governors’ Cup semis affair last March 27, which saw Meralco edge Magnolia and NLEX beat Ginebra.
That was the biggest attendance yet in the midst of the pandemic.
Marcial believes that the fourth installment of the rivals’ championship clash, which commences on Wednesday at the Big Dome, will be a long battle.
“Palagay ko po, long series,” he offered.
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