PBA sees more games at MOA Arena next season

The VIP boxes at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. InterAKTV/Mikkel Bolante

Expect more PBA games next season at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

PBA operations manager Rickie Santos told InterAKTV that the league was pleased to see a healthy crowd for the first televised game at the new facility, Saturday’s matchup between B-MEG and Talk ‘N Text.

“I think this is a good Saturday crowd for a scheduled one game,” said Santos.

While the rest of the league’s games this season already booked at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum, Santos said the league could schedule more games at the new venue next conference.

“Not this season, but this will be our priority alternate venue next season, so we expect to have more games here,” said Santos. “We’re under contract with Araneta, but at least we have another alternate venue outside of Cuneta Astrodome and Ynares Sports Complex.”

B-MEG coach Tim Cone said he wants more games at the MOA Arena.

“I would love to see a double header here,” said Cone. “I would love to see the impact and the drawing power of the other teams and hope they can fill up the venue.”

Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes was all praises for the venue as well.

“I’ve been to a lot of arenas, and I could compare the MOA Arena among the best I’ve seen. For me, the MOA Arena is quite similar to the Staples Center, a smaller version of it,” he said.

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