RECORD 52,612 FANS WITNESS SEASON OPENER
What better way for the PBA to usher in its 40th season with an all-time record high of 52,612 fans attending the opening gameday at the cavernous Philippine Arena.
And for PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio, the support the PBA has garnered through the years is just astonishing, with the tipping point of that endearment exemplified in the mammoth crowd in Bocaue on Sunday.
“I’m speechless,” Gregorio said. “A few months ago, we asked ourselves if we can really fill up the Philippine Arena. As you can see, its a very, very big arena. It’s the world’s biggest arena. But tonight, we made it. 52,612 fans,” he said, and in the process, thanked every one who made the season inaugural a success.
The 52,612 attendance record is a PBA high, eclipsing the previous record set in the 2014 Philippine Cup semifinal Game 7 between Ginebra and San Mig Coffee, where 24,883 fans trooped to the Big Dome to watch the series clincher.
“It’s a perfect story for the 40th season of the PBA,” Gregorio said. “We have to show our forefathers that we will continue to take care of the PBA. From nine teams in 1975 to 12 teams in 2014, we must push and make this a bigger PBA. Otherwise, if we wouldn’t try, then can you just imagine if they didn’t try 40 years ago? There will be no PBA.”
The youthful PBA chairman also believes that this is just the start of bigger things ahead for the PBA, as the league celebrates four decades of delivering the best in sports entertainment.
“Let’s try to transform the PBA slowly, surely, one step at a time. The world is getting smaller and Asian integration is in the works. If we can plot this and secure the support of all stakeholders, then you can expect a bigger PBA by year 2050,” said the soft-spoken executive.
“This is our first game day, 128 games to go, three championships at stake, we have to try to beat that,” he added. “We are not competing against anybody except ourselves. Every time we try to achieve something in the PBA, it means making more Filipinos happier. I’m really proud, happy, and I’m sure we’ll be in the history books.”
“Sabi nga ng bago nating kanta, sentro ng kwento ng ating bayan. Today, 52,612 Filipinos will go home with smiling faces, and that’s what the PBA is all about.” (RL)
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
