PBA eyes Governors’ Cup finals at Seaside Cebu Arena

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) plans to hold games or even a finals series at the newly opened SM Arena Seaside Cebu in Cebu City, touted as the largest indoor arena in the Visayas.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial was invited to the inauguration on July 9 and was impressed by the PHP-7billion facility.

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The Cebu Arena, located on a seven-story venue, has a sitting capacity of 16,000 and can accommodate a maximum of 25,000 people. It has 30 corporate and VIP suites and a huge parking area.

“Sobrang laki at sobrang ganda (Really big and grand),” Marcial said in a news release Tuesday.

Marcial said Cebu games may be held as early as the finals of the 50th season-ending Governors’ Cup.

“Balak talaga natin maglaro dun. Tingnan natin kung kakayanin sa finals. Kung hindi naman, pwedeng next season na (We really plan to play there. We’ll see if we can do it for the finals. If not, it will be for next season),” he said.

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Marcial joined SM Prime Holdings executive committee chair Hans Sy, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Erika Dy and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair Patrick Gregorio during the inauguration.

“(It has a big) dugout and locker area. At may practice court sya (And with a practice court),” Marcial said, noting that such features augur well for PBA games and other international tournaments to be hosted by the country through the SBP and PSC.

The venue, bigger than the 15,000-capacity Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, will host the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in July 2027. International groups are also lined up to hold concerts this year.