Ball is life in the Philippines

THE PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) is set to reprise in the same arena the historic game that attracted the biggest crowd in its 43-year history.

The first Philippine Cup meeting between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco takes place on February 18 at the Philippine Arena, where just three months ago, the two ballclubs tangled in a memorable finals that went the distance.

The deciding Game 7 of the title series set a league attendance record of 54,086 fans who witnessed the Ginebra Kings retain their Governors Cup crown behind a 101-96 victory over the Bolts.

Soon after that box-office record, the PBA board didn’t think twice in scheduling the very first meeting between the two teams in the same playing venue which is the biggest basketball stadium in the country in Bocaue, Bulacan.

"It is planned and sealed even before the season started. We are just looking if both teams can attract the crowd even if it is just an elimination game,”said officer-in-charge Willie Marcial.