Crowd at Philippine Arena on Christmas Day. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
BOCAUE – It’s not everyday the PBA plays inside a world-class stadium like Philippine Arena.
But even coaches who regularly play in front of mammoth crowds couldn’t help but be stunned with the size of the venue.
“This is an awesome facility. I’m so impressed with this facility. The locker room, floor, everything out there is so massive. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said coach Tim Cone.
The Ginebra mentor said the size of the Philippine Arena doesn’t compare to the stadiums he’s been to in the United States.
“This is my first time here. I’ve never been here before and I tell you, I’m just amazed. Even just pulling up and seeing the size of it. I’ve seen Staples (Center), I’ve seen the (Pepsi Center) in Denver, I’ve seen a lot of coliseums, but I’ve seen nothing like this. Amazing.”
Though the Christmas Clasico gameday fell short of at least contending with for record of 52,612 gate attendance back in the season opener of the 2014-15 season, it still netted an attendance north of 20,000.
After his side got the 86-79 victory over Star, keeping the Gin Kings’ record in the venue unblemished, Cone went as far to say he’d love it to be his home court—if only it wasn’t that far from his home.
“It’s a really first class facility. I can play here every day. We’d have to curtain off some of the seats, but of course, I live in the south and it’s kind of hard to get there. It was easy on Christmas Day, but normally it’s going to be two and a half to get here. Today, it was only an hour, an hour and 15 to 20 (minutes) for me to get here,” he said.
Cone wasn’t the lone mentor who thinks the venue has been good to his squad.
Coach Chris Gavina also echoed Cone’s sentiments following Mahindra’s 97-93 overtime win over Blackwater.
With the Floodbuster ending a five-game losing skid for a breakthrough win this 2017 PBA Philippine Cup, Gavina wondered out loud if the league can hold games here in regularity.
“I wish we could play here every week. If the PBA can schedule more games here, we’re lucky over here, I’ll play here any day as long as we win,” he said.