Alapag, Aguilar expect record crowd in PBA opener

Jimmy Alapag. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

BOCAUE, Bulacan, Philippines — The PBA on Sunday will hold its opening ceremonies for its 40th season here at the 55,000-seater Philippine Arena and players are expecting a record attendance.

“It’s awesome,” said Talk ‘N Text playmaker Jimmy Alapag of the newly-built arena. “I think having an arena this size just fits this type of ceremony.”

“We all know how much this country loves basketball. It’s great for the fans to pack them all in here and celebrate the PBA’s 40th Season,” added Alapag just as he stepped out of the team bus and into the dugout.

Alapag and the Tropang Texters will play in the main game set at 5:15pm against crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.

The 5-foot-9 Alapag, fresh off a Fiba World Cup and an Asian Games tilts last August and September, respectively, won’t be playing later as he is placed on the team’s reserved list to give his 36-year-old body a much-needed rest.

Alapag expects an electric feel the moment the ceremonies begin considering the opener is expected to break the crowd attendance record for a PBA game.

“That’s from what I hear,” Alapag said with a smile on the number of people expected to watch. “Again, it’s going to be a great atmosphere not just for the opening but also for the games.”

Gin Kings forward Japeth Aguilar is also expecting a huge crowd.

“First time I’m going to be playing in front of 50,000 crowd,” Aguilar said.

But Aguilar added that he doesn’t want to get caught up in the moment with a big game at hand.

“It’s going to be exciting but my focus is on our game later even though there’s going to be a huge crowd, I can’t get stuck in the moment where I just watch the crowd.”

About 50,000 people are expected to witness the day one of the league’s latest season and Aguilar knows majority of them will be cheering for his team.

“That’s going to be awesome.”

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