PBA opener stands to draw record crowd

MANILA, Philippines – Six days to D-Day, only 20 percent of venue tickets remain available, guaranteeing a record crowd to witness the inaugurals of PBA Season 40 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Sunday.

“I am happy to report that our opening for the PBA’s 40th season this Sunday is being met with enthusiastic response from our fans. I have been informed that 80 percent of the venue tickets have been sold, translating to some 35,000 fans already confirmed to attend,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.

“This is a huge number by any measure that can only become bigger as we get closer to opening day,” Salud added. “But more than the numbers, we in the PBA feel privileged to have this opportunity to give our fans a treat – fans whose unwavering support have brought PBA to where it is today.”

A sell-out crowd isn’t ruled out, meaning as many as 55,000 can fill the huge arena to party with the PBA as it celebrates a big milestone.

In this season inaugural featuring an explosive double-header pitting the Manny Pacquiao-mentored Kia team versus Blackwater Elite and Barangay Ginebra against Talk n Text, the PBA stands to set a new record in the biggest attendance in Philippine basketball.

The latest word from the Pacquiao camp is that the boxing icon, in the thick of his preparation for his November fight in Macau, has been allowed by his trainer Freddie Roach to play in the PBA opening game.

Pacquiao definitely is a factor in the brisk sale of the tickets.

The previous PBA mark of 24,883 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum – set in Game Seven of the 2014 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals between Barangay Ginebra and San Mig Coffee – was surpassed by the 24,896 cheering fans in Game Two of the current UAAP finals between FEU and National U.

A new mark may be set in the deciding Game Three of the FEU-NU showdown also at the Big Dome tomorrow. Even this will be shattered though by the throngs expected to troop to the Philippine Arena on Sunday.

“Maraming dapat pasalamatan pagdating sa istoryang PBA, at ang nasa katuktukan nito ay ang ating mga fans,” said the PBA commissioner.

If the PBA can fill up the Philippine Arena, the historic event could make the Top Five in largest basketball crowds ever gathered anywhere in the world.

The list is topped by the Chicago Bulls-Atlanta Hawks match on March 27, 1998 at Georgia Dome (62,046), followed by the Detroit-Boston tiff on Jan. 29, 1988 at the Pontiac Silverdome (61,983), the Philadelphia-Detroit tussle on Feb. 14, 1987 also at the Pontiac Silverdome, the Minnesota-Denver match on April 17, 1990 at the Metrodome (49,551), then the Atlanta Hawks-Detroit duel on March 30, 1988 (47,692).

The PBA is coordinating with the Philippine Arena management and the Manila North Tollways Corp. for traffic management.

Kia Motors is providing 200 buses to bring the fans to Bocaue and back to Metro Manila. The venue officials, meanwhile, assure there are more than enough parking spaces to accommodate a big volume of vehicles.

The sprawling complex is located between the Marilao and Bocaue exits of the North Luzon Expressway going to Baguio.

Ushering in the season inaugurals is the PBA Chairman’s Ball at 5 p.m. today at the Resorts World in Paranaque. Highlighting the event is the premiere showing of a special documentary entitled “A Nation’s Passion.”