The PBA is set for a homecoming as it will play games again at the SMART Araneta Coliseum starting next week — with fans in attendance.
Commissioner Willie Marcial made the announcement Friday evening as the league finally received the green light from the Quezon City LGU.
“Kakatanggap lang namin ng sulat from Quezon City, kay Mayor Joy Belmonte, na pinapayagan na tayo maglaro sa Quezon City,” the amiable executive said.
This comes days after the Pasay City LGU approved the league’s request to stage matches at the Mall of Asia Arena with a live audience as well. However, the Chooks-to-Go MPBL will be holding their games there until December 23.
“Last Tuesday, pinayagan tayo ni Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, [kaya] maraming salamat po sa mga tulong inyo,” said Marcial.
This indeed is a huge development for the PBA, who’s been raring to go back to its usual venues after playing in bubble set-ups in the last two conferences.
The league last played at the Big Dome back on March 8, 2020, when it opened the 45th season that eventually got hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Only one game was held that night as the league decided to pause the season indefinitely when the health crisis was starting to wreak havoc.
Games of the ongoing Governors’ Cup will be held in Araneta starting on Wednesday, said Marcial, though a schedule has yet to be released.
The season-ending tilt opened just last Wednesday.
“Katulad pa rin ng dati, every week kami maglalabas – -tulad nang ginagawa natin sa Pampanga. Every week tayo maglalabas ng schedule,” he said.
Meanwhile, the fourth-year league chieftain said that the fans should all be fully vaccinated, and would also need to bring a valid ID for entry.
“Kailangan po fully vaccinated ang mga fans, at magdala po kayo ng government ID para papasukin po kayo sa venue,” he said.
There are also health protocols to be followed inside, he added.
“Kailangan po naka-mask kayo, at hindi kayo pwede magdala ng pagkain — meron lang po [na lugar] kung saan kayo kakain,” he said.
Marcial also disclosed the seating capacity allocated by the venues.
“Sa Araneta, mga around 3,000-4000 to lang; sa MoA mga around 1,000-1,300. So talagang konti lang kasi two seats apart ang binibigay ng LGU.
“Pero at least, makakapanood na yung mga fans,” he said.
