‘House of basketball’ rising soon

The Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) dream of having an arena it can call its own gets closer to reality with solid backing from major partners.

League commissioner Willie Marcial said construction of an 8,000 to 10,000-seater arena dedicated to Asia’s first play-for-pay league is already underway in collaboration with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and University of the Philippines (UP).

The site of the future arena sits on a 3,000 to 4,000-hectare land owned by UP and located along Commonwealth Ave. near the UP-Ayala Land TechnoHub.

PBA Board of Governor members Atty. Bill Pamintuan of Meralco, Jason Webb of Magnolia and Atty. Raymond Zorilla of Phoenix lead the committee overseeing the construction of the historic facility.

PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio and Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, both proud products of the State University, and UP Diliman Chancellor Carlo Vista are also part of the committee.

“The committee had already conducted a couple of meetings. Secretary Remulla presided over those meetings,” Marcial said.

Marcial said that the development was also disclosed during the recent National Congress of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

SBP chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan mentioned the construction, referring to it as the Philippines’ “house of basketball.”

“I understand we have a property already. So, it’s time to raise the money and build the facility,” the long-time basketball and sports godfather said.

Having its own arena has been PBA’s long-time dream.

Talks and plans for its construction have been ongoing since former chairman Buddy Encarnado and have been adopted all the way up to incumbent chair Ricky Vargas.

Once settled, all parties concerned will sign a Memorandum of Agreement before the groundbreaking rite is held.

“We’re just waiting for the MoA signing before we can proceed with the groundbreaking,” Marcial said.

The arena, however, will be a co-sharing facility where UP can also hold school events such as graduation, baccalaureate, speaking engagements, among others.

“It’s part of the agreement that (UP) will also get to use the facility,” the PBA official said.

After the facility’s completion, elimination games will be held in the arena while playoffs matches will be staged in bigger venues such as the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the Mall of Asia Arena.