Team Stalwarts during the Blitz Game at Araneta. PBA IMAGES
PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa lamented the poor fan turnout for the second day of the 2016 PBA All-Star Manila Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Of course, we’re disappointed right now,” said Narvasa with audience for the Blitz Game, Obstacle Challenge, 3-point Shootout, and Slam Dunk Competition barely reaching 500 fans.
Narvasa, though, was happy for the players’ efforts.
“They came out, they did their best. That’s for the fans, they just want to show them that they appreciate the fans and I’m hoping the fans appreciate them,” said Narvasa. “But that’s the way it is. When it’s Manila talaga, I think there’s something we can learn from this also.”
In an interview with INQUIRER’s live sports show SportsIQ in July, Narvasa said that PBA has struggled with external factors in the nation’s capital.
“In Metro Manila, you have to understand the demographic, there’s so many distractions already and so many other activities going on and it diverts also the attention of the people, and its something we’re looking into,” said Narvasa in the interview. “But you go to the provinces, we’re always full, there’s a lot of demand for PBA games.”
The PBA held the 2015 All-Star Weekend in Puerto Princesa, Palawan where they where drew a better crowd than this weekend.
The last time Smart Araneta Coliseum was the host of the All Star Weekend was in 2009 while it was only two years ago when the league chose Manila for the annual festivities.
The PBA All-Star Game featuring the top players and coaches in the league is on Sunday also at the Big Dome.