MOA Arena opens doors to UAAP, NCAA cage wars

MANILA, Philippines – The management of the Mall of Asia Arena has announced the venue will host the opening games in the 89th NCAA and the 76th UAAP basketball tournaments and most games of both collegiate leagues, including some playoff matches.

"Yes, the MOA Arena will be home of most games in the UAAP and NCAA," said Arnel Gonzales, Business Unit Head of Mall of Asia Arena, in Thursday’s media briefing at the MOA Arena's Premier Cafe.

Scheduled on June 22 are junior and seniors matches pitting reigning three-peat NCAA champion San Beda against Lyceum at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. and San Sebastian against St. Benilde at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in a season that will be hosted by St. Benilde.

A week later, the UAAP, which will be hosted by Adamson, will come off the wraps with Far Eastern U battling University of the East at 2 p.m. and La Salle facing off with Santo Tomas at 4 p.m.

NCAA games scheduled at the MOA Arena, which has celebrated its first year since its operations began, are during Mondays and Thursdays while UAAP matches are set every Sunday and Wednesday with some Saturday games thrown in.

The MOA Arena has been aggressive of late and have laid plans of hosting more sporting events, including the ONE Fighting Championship: Rise to Power on May 31 and another mixed martial arts event in King of the Cage on July 5.

MOA Arena will also be the home of the FIBA-Asia Championship from Aug. 1-11 when our Smart Gilas Pilipinas 2-0 is hoping to clinch one of the three berths to next year's World Championships in Spain.

Throw in some PBA games and volleyball games like the ongoing Shakey's V-League 10-Open Conference on the side.

The highlight of the MOA Arena's sporting venture this year is the NBA pre-season game pitting the Indiana Pacers and the Houston Rockets on Oct. 10.