(PBA image)
The Philippine Sports Commission renewed its full backing of the Philippine Basketball Association, reinforcing a long-standing partnership as the pro league marks its golden 50th season.
Under PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, the government sports agency has reopened the doors of two historic venues—the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum—for use in the remainder of the PBA season, giving the league familiar and symbolic stages for its milestone year.
The renewed partnership was sealed Wednesday during a courtesy call by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial at the PSC office inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. What began as a formal meeting quickly turned into a warm reunion, with both sides reconnecting over shared history and future plans for Philippine basketball.
Gregorio personally toured Marcial and his staff around the sprawling complex, highlighting ongoing refurbishments at the tennis courts, baseball stadium, and the taekwondo headquarters of the 92-year-old sports landmark—part of PSC’s broader push to modernize national training and competition facilities.
The meeting carried personal significance. Gregorio previously served as PBA chairman and as team governor of TNT, working closely with Marcial during his earlier years with the league.
“Masaya at maraming kuwentuhan, hindi lang tungkol sa PBA, kundi pati sa trabaho niya ngayon bilang chairman ng PSC,” Marcial shared, underscoring the easy rapport between the two sports executives.
More importantly, the discussions confirmed that the league will continue staging games at both government-owned venues this season, a setup that resumed under former PSC chairman Richard Bachmann, himself a former PBA team governor with the now-defunct Alaska franchise.
“Nagkasundo na kami na maglalaro pa rin ang PBA sa dalawang venues this season,” Marcial said.
The two sides also touched on the possibility of expanding game locations to the Philsports Arena in Pasig, although the venue remains under reconstruction.
As the PBA celebrates five decades of play-for-pay basketball, the renewed PSC partnership ensures the league’s historic season unfolds in equally historic arenas—bridging past, present, and future at the heart of Philippine sports.