Cebu basketball fans may finally be getting the blockbuster stage they’ve long been waiting for.
The Philippine Basketball Association is seriously considering bringing games—including a possible Governors’ Cup Finals showdown—to the newly opened SM Seaside Cebu Arena, one of the country’s biggest and most modern indoor venues.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial admitted he was left impressed after touring the ₱7-billion arena during its recent inauguration.
According to Marcial, the venue is even larger than the Mall of Asia Arena and boasts world-class facilities built for major basketball events. Aside from its massive seating capacity of up to 25,000 fans, the arena also features spacious locker rooms, premium VIP suites, dedicated practice courts, and modern player facilities.
Those features immediately caught the attention of the league, which is now eyeing Cebu as a future home for marquee PBA games.
“We really want to play there,” Marcial said, adding that the league is exploring the possibility of staging a Finals game this season. If scheduling doesn’t work out, the venue is expected to become part of the PBA calendar in Season 51.
The arena’s opening was attended by SM Prime Holdings Executive Committee Chairman Hans Sy, SBP Executive Director Erika Dy, PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio, and Marcial—highlighting the facility’s potential to host not just PBA games but also major international basketball tournaments.
If plans push through, Cebu could soon witness the biggest stars of the PBA battling under one roof, giving Visayan fans a long-awaited chance to experience championship basketball without flying to Manila.