What if PBA teams have home courts?
THE double-header Game 3 of the semifinal round of the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup was held at the 5,000-seater Dasmariñas City Arena in Cavite.
The two semifinal showdowns featured the clash between Rain or Shine and San Miguel Beer in the first game and Meralco and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the second game.
The venue, albeit not as big as the Araneta Coliseum, was packed to the rafters and the atmosphere was electric. The local basketball fans were treated to back-to-back exciting basketball games and the players played their hearts out.
It is a sign that the PBA is still — and remains — a crowd drawer and the top sports entertainment in the country.
The matches in Dasmariñas City was somehow a reminder that holding the games outside Metro Manila is an effective formula for the first play-for-pay professional league in Asia to lure its fans back into the league.
But imagine if this arena in Cavite is transformed into a home court of one of the PBA ballclubs.
It’s possible, why not? PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said on Thursday that teams having home courts outside Metro Manila has been proposed in the past.
“We can revisit that (proposal) and look at the possibility. Actually there are other proposals similar to this, but we need to discuss everything with the (PBA) board,” said Marcial in a phone interview with The Manila Times.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said this could lead to having solid support from fans who can watch the games live and interact with players from their home team.
“Come to think of it, one way to elicit an emotional attachment is through locality. But another way is having a home territory. Hindi lang mismo basketball court ang ma-papalapit sayo, even the surrounding community,” said Guiao.
“Here in the PBA, you root for the team if there is already an emotional involvement. That (home court) is one way to have fans be emotionally invested. Designate an area na magiging home base ng team. That’s a good formula,” he added.
Guiao said playing in nearby provinces like Bulacan and Pampanga in the north, Cavite and Batangas in the south will not be a problem for the teams and the league.
“If there is a good venue similar to Cavite or areas within driving distance, it could be a formula to bring back fans. If we could do more of that, these out-of-town games, why not? Of course there is always a time to play at Araneta or MOA (Mall of Asia) Arena in the finals,” said Guiao.
League officials have been criticized due to low attendance at the playing venues during games this conference, particularly in the elimination round. But according to Marcial, that changed in the playoffs.
Even the TV ratings went up as Game 4 of the Ginebra-Meralco series received a viewership of 3 million TV eyeballs.
“TV pa lang ‘yan, wala pa yung livestream. PBA fans are still watching the games. May mga suggestion on how to improve it (gate attendance), na para sa akin pwedeng pag-aralan,” said Marcial.
On Friday the league held the do-or-die Game 7 of the semifinal series between Ginebra and Meralco at the FPJ Arena in San Jose, Batangas.