The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) on Sunday night drew its biggest audience in the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Game Three of the 2021-22 Governors’ Cup Finals between Ginebra and Meralco at the SM Mall of Asia Arena welcomed a crowd of 16,104, the league disclosed.
It has eclipsed the 13,272 set last March 27 at the same venue, which featured a semis twinbill that saw the Bolts beat Magnolia and NLEX down the Kings.
According to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon, the 16,104 is the most in a PBA game since the 23,711 tallied in the 2019 season-opener last January 13, 2019 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The mega venue, best known to have housed 54,086 fans in Game 7 of the 2017 Governors’ Cup Finals between Ginebra and Meralco as well, could host the PBA again should the ongoing title bout reach a Game Seven.
However, it would also depend if the series will go that far, and neither the MoA Arena nor the SMART Araneta Coliseum is available.
Local sports leagues have enjoyed tremendous success since fully opening their gates to fans when Metro Manila was placed under Alert Level 1.
Exactly a week ago, the Premier Volleyball League welcomed 14,322 spectators also at the MOA Arena, which watched a double-header offering bannered by the Finals match-up between Creamline and Petro Gazz.
The PBA Finals returns to the Big Dome on Wednesday, where the awarding of the Best Player of the Conference and Best Import will be held prior to Game 4.
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The finals is also livestreamed on SMART Sports.
