Sun.Star Davao

Sellout crowd

Ginebra vs Phoenix here, April 1

- By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan

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

 ?? MACKY LIM ?? ORGANIZERS. Arki Quest officers from left, finance chief Danilo Guevarra, chairman Hector Magno, co-chairman Sonny Labao, logistics head Ramsey Tancontian and organizing committee's Romy Birrey pose after yesterday's press conference on the upcoming...
MACKY LIM ORGANIZERS. Arki Quest officers from left, finance chief Danilo Guevarra, chairman Hector Magno, co-chairman Sonny Labao, logistics head Ramsey Tancontian and organizing committee's Romy Birrey pose after yesterday's press conference on the upcoming...

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