Sellout crowd
Ginebra vs Phoenix here, April 1
ORGANIZER Arki Quest expects another sellout crowd when crowd-drawing Ginebra San Miguel battles Phoenix Fuel Masters on April 1 in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup at the 6,500-seater University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) Gym in Davao City.
Organizing committee's Romy Birrey, in a press conference at a local restaurant yesterday, said: "We expect 100 percent (of tickets will be) sold out", considering Ginebra's strong fan base anywhere in the country.
Arki Quest chairman Hector Magno said, "The upcoming PBA game here is an answer to the clamor of Dabawenyos to bring Ginebra. This will be the sixth PBA game we are sponsoring and we are happy with the partnership with the PBA all these years."
He added that the Phoenix team is arriving on Thursday while Ginebra will come on Friday. Both teams will hold practice sessions at Usep Gym before their Saturday encounter.
But Magno said they will respect coaches' decisions whether to allow media and the public for interviews or a meet-and greet since each PBA game could not be taken lightly.
"They will be here to play a game and not as tourists. The coaches and the players are serious about this game. Every game counts in the elimination round," Magno added.
Co-chairman Sonny Labao also said that this will be Ginebra's first game in the city. "Dati sa Digos or sa Panabo sila naglalaro, ngayon dito na sa newly-airconditioned Usep Gym."
Logistics committee chairperson Ramsey Tancontian, meanwhile, said Arki Quest continues its outreach programs in Datu Salumay in Marilog District and in a Badjao community in Matina Aplaya through the proceeds of their fund-raising activities like hosting PBA games aside from giving scholarships to deserving underprivileged students.
Finance head Danilo Guevarra, for his part, added that they allocate P120,000 every year for their four college scholars studying architecture at the University of Mindanao (UM).
In Datu Salumay, Guevarra said, "We have built two classrooms and one halfway house since some students really live so far away. They can sleep at the halfway house."
Tickets, which are pegged at P1,800, P800 and P600, are still available at KMS Lighting Ideas, Iconarts and Helen's Pawnshop Victoria Plaza.
Arki Quest is an association of architects in Davao. MLSA