The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) might soon be calling Philippine Sports Commission facilities home if negotiations to house PBA games in the sports agency’s refurbished venues push through.
The Multi-purpose Arena (MPA) in Philsports Complex in Pasig City, Ninoy Aquino Stadium (NAS) and Rizal Memorial Coliseum (RMC) at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Manila are being eyed to host PBA games.
Renato Chavez, Evihore Lopez and Neil Tibajares of the PBA conducted an ocular inspection on Thursday and expressed their delight over the upgrades they saw in the RMSC venues.
The RMC, the most historic facility of the three, is now air-conditioned and boasts of retractable seating. Romy Teneza, venue manager of the RMC declared that the famed coliseum can now accommodate more or less an audience of 8,000 seated guests, depending on the seating plan.
PSC Deputy Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy said that even the University Athletic Association of the Philippines has expressed interest in holding events in the upgraded sports venues managed by the sports agency.
“We are very positive about this. It would be nice to host them again in our arena,” said PSC Chairman William Ramirez, adding that requirements of the national team shall remain a priority when it comes to use of said government sports facility.
The Philsports MPA was the PBA’s home for some years in the ‘80s and early 2000s.