The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) moved the basketball events of the 30th SEA Games from Mall of Asia Arena to the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Phisgoc chief operating officer Ramon Suzara admitted difficulty in booking both the Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum. And so, the Phisgoc settled for a “backup” venue.

Located at the heart of San Juan City, Filoil Flying V Center can only accommodate 5,500 spectators, way smaller than the 20,000-seater Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

It is often used as venue for various volleyball tournaments like the Philippine Superliga (PSL), University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

On the other hand, basketball, especially the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), is often being played in bigger venues like the Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Venues in Manila like Smart Araneta and MOA Arena are hard to reserve because bookings (have been) made (a) long time ago,” said Suzara.

Suzara also said the gymnastics events will be held at the Rizal

Memorial Coliseum and Rizal Memorial badminton hall in Manila after an initial booking at SMX Convention Center.

“So now, as an update, basketball will now be at Filoil Arena and gymnastics will be at Rizal Coliseum and we’re also going to use the badminton area for gymnastics.”

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has hinted at deploying PBA players to the SEA Games.

This makes the Filoil Flying V Centre too small to accommodate the spectators to the men’s basketball event.

A source from the SBP said he suspects the Phisgoc was not able to book the venues on time.

“Maybe (it was) late in booking (for the venues),” the Daily Tribune source said.

Prior to the latest announcement, the Phisgoc revealed that indoor volleyball events will be held at the Philsports Arena; beach volleyball in Subic; polo in Calatagan, Batangas; billiards at the Manila Hotel while majority of the sports will be at the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac.

Suzara admitted some delays, especially with the P5-billion budget yet to be released. But he said they are working hard to address the needs of all 56 sports that will be played in the biggest, grandest SEA Games ever.

“There’s still a lot to process. Venue and competition managers still have to prepare plans and technical requirements. There will also be some testing of some venues like lighting, toilets and other things,” he said.

“Despite all these delays, we will continue to move forward and make sure that everything is ready and confirmed so we can proceed with the overlaying design of the venues,” Suzara added.