By el Amigo
MANILA – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is considering staging games—including the championship series of its milestone 50th Season Governors’ Cup—at the newly inaugurated SM Arena Seaside Cebu, one of the country’s newest premier sports and entertainment venues.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said the league is eager to bring professional basketball to the state-of-the-art arena after attending its inauguration on July 9, where he was impressed by the facility’s size and amenities.
The PHP7-billion arena, located in Cebu City, features a seating capacity of 16,000, expandable to as many as 25,000 spectators. It also includes 30 corporate and VIP suites, spacious parking facilities, modern locker rooms, and a dedicated practice court.
Marcial described the venue as “really big and grand,” adding that the PBA is exploring the possibility of holding Governors’ Cup Finals games there.
“Our plan is really to play there. We’ll see if it’s possible for the finals. If not, then we can target next season,” Marcial said.
Joining Marcial during the inauguration were SM Prime Holdings Executive Committee Chair Hans Sy, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy, and Philippine Sports Commission Chair Patrick Gregorio.
Beyond hosting PBA games, Marcial noted that the arena’s world-class facilities make it an ideal venue for international basketball competitions and other major sporting events organized by the SBP and PSC.
The Cebu arena surpasses the 15,000-seat Mall of Asia Arena in capacity and has already been selected to host the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in July 2027. It is also expected to stage several major international concerts later this year.
elamigo/xf
