THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the local organizing committee of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, got a shot in the arm in its bid to break the record for the highest gate attendance in a single game.
This was after the Office of the President on Wednesday suspended work in government agencies and classes in public schools on August 25 to give way to the opening ceremonies and games of the FIBA World Cup at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Malacanang’s partial holiday, however, will cover only the province of Bulacan and Metro Manila.
“Work in government offices and classes in public schools at all levels in Metro Manila and the Province of Bulacan are hereby suspended on August 25, 2023,” said the Memorandum Circular from Malacanang signed by Presidential Executive Secretary Luis Bersamin.
This move by Malacanang will give more chances for fans to fill the Philippine Arena, giving the SBP a big boost to surpass the standing 32,616 gate attendance record, set in 1994 in Toronto, Canada, where a powerhouse US team, led by Shaquille O’Neal and Reggie Miller, routed Russia to win the championship.
FIBA World Cup 2023 deputy event director Erika Dy said 28,000 tickets have already been sold for the opening rites, which will have star-studded ceremonies and the first game of the Gilas Pilipinas opposite Dominican Republic.
SBP president Al Panlilio is so confident that he’s actually looking at breaching the 50,000 record achieved by the PBA earlier this year.
“Ang gusto ko ngang makita is if we can breach the 50,000-mark ng gate attendance sa PBA,” said Panlilio.
The Philippine Arena record was achieved when 54,589 fans attended the Game 7 final of the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup between local crowd favorite Ginebra and guest team Bay Area last January.
To lure more fans for the opening date of the biggest basketball showdown among the best in the world, the SBP has laid down exciting festivities, including performances by Sarah Geronimo and Ben & Ben.
There are also plans to invite national athletes to watch the games through the PSC, which after all, is serving as the conduit of the P1-billion financial support from the government.
There are more than a thousand athletes on the list of the PSC and providing the tickets for free is nothing more than just a small token of appreciation to the PSC’s billion-peso budget allotment for the tournament.