MANILA, 1 August 2003 — It’s high time the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) — one of the most successful professional basketball leagues in Asia — build a playing arena it can call its own.
The recent controversies with its playing venues are forcing the PBA to speed up search for site where it can build its own cage dome next year.
“In fact, if the board will have its way, the PBA governors, headed by Chairman Jun Cabalan, want to start the construction next year,” said PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.
The PBA board has unanimously approved plans for the construction of its own venue.
Actually, the league had already planned in the past to build its own venue. The plan was shelved because of the economic crisis the country has been experiencing since the late 90s.
But Eala said talks with Araneta and PhilSports officials are still ongoing.
“I don’t want to lose Araneta. I don’t want to lose PhilSports and I’m trying my best to settle the issue and bring back our games to those two venues,” he said referring to the venues where the games are regularly being held.
If plans don’t miscarry, the “PBA Dome” will become a landmark either in the Pagcor City in the Para?aque reclamation area, the present site of the Rizal provincial capitol in Pasig or a private land in front of the SM North Edsa in Quezon City.
“We’re fast-tracking our plans with all the problems we face. We thought this is the best thing to do. If we have our way, we’ll start construction next year,” said Eala.
According to Sta. Lucia Realty PBA board representative Buddy Encarnado, the governors welcomed the proposal put forward by Eala to draw up plans to put up its own venue. He said the prospective venue must be able to stand on its own, meaning a complex that includes a shopping mall-like structure to lure the crowds even during the off-season.
Encarnado, a real estate developer, has been tasked by the board to head the committee that will lay down the groundwork for the project. He said the 10 member teams arrived at the decision due to differences with Araneta Coliseum management. The Big Dome has been the original venue of the league since 1975 and is still the site of the league’s weekend and, often, playoff matches.
But Eala said he’s been holding talks with a lot of people now for the prospective sites, dome designs and the financial aspects of the project.
“Definitely, we’ll look for the best deal and then move forward,” said Eala, who assumed one of the most prestigious posts in Philippine sports this year.
Eala expects the project study to be completed by September, the PBA board discussing and approving it by the first quarter of next year and the project starting work by summer.
He is still studying the financial plan.
“It could be either the teams put in equity or we look for a partner,” he said. “This is one of the things I’m supposed to do”.. present a financial plan or a study on how to finance the whole project. It will start with the question how much is the cost, then determine how will you apportion it to the teams.” The plan is to make the PBA Dome a landmark in Metro Manila. It will serve as the PBA’s permanent home and venue for various events and shows like concerts.
If ever, this would be the biggest legacy Eala and the present board would be leaving in the league.
Eala said Pagcor expressed great interest in a possible tie-up with the PBA but temporarily shelved talks pending the extension of its franchise by the Congress.
