THE PBA is going back to Dubai and not with just regular conference games.
This is the assurance given by PBA Commissioners Willie Marcial, who said the league holding either a finals game or even the All-Star Week in the United Arab Emirates' largest city is a distinct possibility.
"Seventy percent na siguradong babalik tayo dito," said Marcial after the PBA concluded its "Balik sa Dubai" twin games last Saturday at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
"Ganoon ka-sigurado dahil kahit mismong mga top officials ng Dubai Sports Council talagang nagsabing interesadong mag-hold pa tayo ulit ng games dito," added Marcial.
"Kaya pagbalik sa Manila, ilalatag ko sa (PBA) Board ang suhestiyon at kapag binigyan tayo ng go-signal tuloy ang magiging pakikipag-usap natin sa mga tao dito para ma-plantsa natin."
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The PBA games could even be part of or a lead-up event to the Dubai Expo 2020 festivities, making it imperative that the matches should be no ordinary ones.
"'Yung Dubai Sports Council, gusto championship game or All-Star," said Marcial. "Depende na lang sa usapan kung kailan. Pero kung susuportahan naman ng Dubai Sports Council, wala tayong problema. 'Yung timing lang ang pag-aaralan natin kung kailan."
Marcial also let on it is a toss-up between the league's brightest stars strutting their stuff in Dubai or a championship game.
"Logistically, mas madaling i-organize 'yung finals. Pero kailangan mahaba, 'yung may pahinga dito. 'Di tulad ng All-Star na p'wedeng bukas, maglaro na agad kami. Pero malaking proyekto iyon dahi sa dami ng players involved.
"Kumporme rin sa mga tao kasi 'yung iba d'yan gusto manood ng totoong basketball. Pero 'pag All-Stars, lahat naman ng mga sikat andyan. Kaya paniguradong dadagsain rin talaga."
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Sure to sway the PBA Board to give the green light are the hordes of Filipino fans who flocked to watch the games between San Miguel Beer and NLEX last Friday and the Barangay Ginebra-NLEX match the following evening.
A rough estimate of the combined gate has been pegged at 15,000, the bulk of which came during the second game.
So intense was the fervor shown by the mostly Filipino fans that security had to be tightened up since SMB players were prevented from doing more of their pre-game routines to oblige those who want groufies or selfies and signatures.
That surely impressed the Dubai officials and others who want to stage more PBA games there, according to Marcial.
"Lagi naman tayong hindi napapahiya sa mga taga Dubai. Basta maglalaro ang PBA, talagang pinupuntahan nila. May mga galing pang Abu Dhabi, tapos pati na rin sa ibang emirates. Talagang bumabiyahe pa sila para mapanood tayo," offered Marcial.
"Marami na'ng gustong magpalaro, marami na rin ang lumapit sa akin Tinatanong na nga nila ako kung kailan ulit puwede pumunta ang PBA dito.
Mas tumaas ang interes nila sa liga dahil kitang-kita nila kung gaano natuwa ang mga tao."
And with the Dubai Sports Council acting as chief backer of any such project, Marcial is confident it will push through.
"Halos gobyerno na ng Dubai ang kausap natin kaya talagang malaki ang possibility na matuloy tayo ulit dito," said Marcial.(NC)
