CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE PBA
Wednesday, December 25, 2013, will be the tenth time the Philippine Basketball Association is having games on Christmas Day.
Air21 and GlobalPort clash in their elimination round rematch at 5:45 p.m. while Petron Blaze and Barangay Ginebra figure in a titanic clash of the league’s co-leaders in the 8 p.m. second game at the Mall of Asia Arena.
These will be the 15th and 16th Christmas Day games in league history and second straight at the MOA Arena.
The Express (as the former Shopinas.com squad) and the Batang Pier are playing for the very first time on Christmas Day.
The game between the Boosters and Kings, on the other hand, is a game between the only unbeaten squad among those who have previously played on Christmas Day and the team who has played the most number of times on the said date, the PBA’s virtual Christmas offering for its fans.
Petron Blaze defeated Air21, now Barako Bull, in 2006 108-104 and Red Bull in 2004 92-78 when it was still known as San Miguel Beer.
Barangay Ginebra has played in seven of the league’s past nine Christmas Day playdates, winning six of them including the last four. It’s last Christmas Day game was in 2010 when it eliminated Alaska 79-70 in Game 3 of their best-of-three quarterfinal at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Kings’ only Christmas Day loss was in 2006 when it dropped a 115-104 decision to Talk ‘N Text.
And the only two times it wasn’t part of the league’s Christmas Day games were in 2002 and last year.
2002 was the year the league had its first Christmas Day game which was Game 4 of the All-Filipino Cup best-of-five Finals between Alaska and Coca-Cola. The Tigers clinched their first-ever PBA title that day with a 78-63 rout.
Barangay Ginebra should’ve also played on Christmas Day last year but were eliminated by Rain or Shine in their best-of-three qiuarterfinal.
The only times the PBA did not have games on Christmas Day were in 2003 and in 2010. (FM)
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