PBA BRACES FOR GAME 5: WIDESCREEN TV VIEWING, WATER STATIONS, POLICE VISIBILITY
If Game 4’s crowd of 18,168 on a Monday evening is to be any indication, the Smart Araneta Coliseum should be packed to the rafters when San Mig Super Coffee and Rain or Shine clash in the no-tomorrow Game 5 of the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup Finals at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The huge demand for tickets for the finale of the epic series points to another record crowd for the Asia’s play of pay league.
In anticipation, upon the instructions of PBA Board chairman Mon Segismundo, the Commissioner’s Office has put in place a number of measures to make sure that the fans do not miss the hardcourt action, and to ensure everyone’s safety and security.
Large screen TV sets will be strategically positioned around the Araneta Center that will show the game live.
“Thanks to the intensity and passion of the protagonists, this series has really generated so much support from the fans. But we have to admit that we cannot accommodate all of them for today’s Game 5,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.
“As much as we want to fill the Araneta Coliseum, we are also trying to avoid accidents. Safety and security of the fans is always foremost in my mind,” Salud said.
Maynilad, courtesy of PBA vice chairman Patrick Gregorio, will also be putting up water stations around the Big Dome.
For his part, P/Supt. Ramon Pranada, Station 7 commander, promised to beef up the police personnel at the Araneta Center for Game 5, to address rampant ticket scalping and ticket snatching in the vicinity.
Resorts World Manila will also broadcast the game live on a wide screen at its atrium lobby.
“We are doing all these for the fans. We want this all important game to reach as many of our fans as possible. This is our small way of thanking the fans for being with us through the years,” said Salud, who also acknowledged the support of MyPhone, Resorts World Manila, Araneta Center, TV5 and P/Supt. Ramon Pranada for joining hands with the league in this undertaking.
San Mig Super Coffee will try to complete only the fifth grand slam in the 39 years of the PBA to cap another record breaking season for the league, surpassing the 2013 banner year.
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