MANILA, Philippines - Nagposte ang Philippine Basketball Association ng P39 milyon mula sa tickets sales ng nakaraang 2011-2012 PBA Philippine Cup na nagtampok sa championship series ng nagdedepensang Talk N’ Text at Powerade.
Tumaas ng 3 porsiyento ang kinita ng professional league kumpara noong nakaraang season sa nasabi ring torneo.
Kumita ang PBA ng P38 milyon sa ticket sales ng 2010-2011 PBA Philippine Cup kung saan naglaban sa semifinal round ang Talk N’ Text, Petron, Barangay Ginebra at B-Meg.
“This is very encouraging for the league. And we owe it to our fans…they are the barometer of our success. The success of the Philippine Cup is a testament that the fans enjoyed watching the games. Hopefully, we will have another banner year,” sabi ni PBA chairman Mamerto Mondragon ng Rain or Shine.
Nangako si Mondragon ng mas maaksyong mga labanan sa nalalapit na 2012 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, magsisimula sa Pebrero 10.
Mga imports na may unlimited height ang itatampok sa naturang torneo na pinagharian ng Tropang Texters noong nakaraang taon.
Sinabi naman ni Willie Marcial, ang PBA media bureau chief at assistant to the Commissioner, na tumabo sa 9 porsiyento ang total gross sales kumpara sa P36 milyong projected target earnings.
“We would like to emphasize that the split of games during the semi-finals helped boost the conference’s gate receipts and attendance but more importantly, it provided a well-deserved exposure for the two powerhouse contenders (Talk N’ Text at Petron) and the two upcoming teams (Powerade at Rain or Shine),” ani Marcial.
Sa 2012 PBA Commissioner’s Cup makikita sina NBA veterans Dermarr Johnson (Barako Bull), Jake Voskuhl (Rain or Shine), Jelani McCoy (Meralco) at Nick Fazekas (Petron Blaze).
Magbabalik naman para sa Ginebra si 7-foot-1 import Chris Alexander, tumulong sa kanila sa pag-angkin sa 2008 PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown.
Ang iba pang imports na mapapanod ay sina dating Smart Gilas center at naturalized Marcus Douthit (Air21, dating Shopinas.com), Matt Haryasz (Alaska), Omar Samhan (Talk ‘N Text), Dwayne Jones (Powerade) at Denzel Bowles (B-Meg).
Makakalaban ng Barako Bull ang Alaska sa ganap na alas-5:45 ng hapon kasunod ang laro ng B-Meg at Meralco naman sa alas-7:45 ng gabi sa Smart-Araneta Coliseum sa Pebrero 10.