PBA returns to Dubai for 2-day extravaganza at Coca-cola Arena

DUBAI: Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) is returning to Dubai this October with two days of action for its back in Dubai weekend to be held at Dubai’s newest venue, Coca-cola Arena.

With thousands of fans set to cheer on the very best basketball talent from the Philippines, the two-day showcase will see the stars of the Filipino game perform at the 17,000-capacity Coca-cola Arena – the region’s first multipurpose indoor arena, also marking the venue’s very first sporting event.

The two-day extravaganza will take place on Friday October 4th and Saturday October 5th and promises to create a festival of basketball for Dubai fans with two main games across the two days.

It will be a weekend of firsts as PBA star and five-time MVP, June Mar Fajardo will be playing in Dubai for the first time in his career as the San Miguel Beermen are set to play its first official PBA game in the Middle East.

The PBA Back in Dubai weekend is among one of the very first events to be held at Dubai’s Coca-cola Arena – which has already seen global stars through its doors including stand-up comedian and actor Russell Peters as well as musical superstars, Maroon 5 who played in front of a sell-out 17,000 audience earlier this year.

The first match on Friday October 4th will see San Miguel Beermen take on NLEX Road Warriors and will follow a carnival-like atmosphere inside Coca-cola Arena as pre-games and shoot arounds take place before the main action.

On Oct.5, NLEX will be pited against the locally supported Barangay Ginebra. For all details of the weekend please visit www.coca-cola-arena.com.

Basketball is high on the global agenda at the moment as the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup gets underway from August 31st in China until September 15th, with the Philippines set to host the next FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023.

Stars to look out for at the PBA Back in Dubai weekend are reigning five-time MVP, June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beermen who will be joined by Christian Standhardinger, Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross and the newest member of the San Miguel Beermen, Terrence Romeo.

Joining Stanley Pringle in Barangay Ginebra colours will be the celebrated ‘Twin Towers’ Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter, LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, Joe Devance, Jeff Chan, Mark Caguioa and also their latest acquisition Jared Dillinger.

Expected to be back ater FIBA suspension, Keifer Ravena will lead the pack for NLEX Road Warriors, with Asi Taulava, Poy Erram, Larry Fonacier, Cyrus Baguio and Kevin Alas, who returns from a spell out of the game ater knee surgery earlier this year. All teams will be reinforced by imports, with Justin Brownlee expected to turn out for Barangay Ginebra.