Singapore, Saudi games for PBA

By Noli Cortez
Malaya
September 11, 2007

If negotiations prove successful, the pro league may hold two official games in Singapore and Saudi Arabia this year.

This was bared yesterday by PBA Media Bureau chief Willie Marcial, who said league officials are currently deep in negotiations with their counterparts from Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

Also being explored is the possibility of holding an official game in Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Last April, a Fiesta Cup game was held in Dubai.

"Organizers have already sent us feelers on the possibility of playing a game in Abu Dhabi. It’s just a matter of sitting down with them for official talks to get underway," said Marcial.

Of more concrete form are the games in Singapore and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where thousands of overseas Filipino Workers are clamoring for PBA games. In fact, Marcial said, a game was already penciled to be held in Singapore on Oct. 7 but "this had to be postponed when we decided to move back our opening" to Oct. 14.

"’Yung game naman sa Saudi, talagang it is very apparent and clear that organizers want at least one game there."

Because of the proximity of the season’s opening on Oct. 14, however, games abroad would have to be scheduled within the second conference calendar.

Even if only two games push through, it will still be a record for the 33-year-old league, which started holding an official game abroad only during the 2005 season.

Pro league fans in the provinces will not be left out. At least nine games, excluding two doubleheaders, are set to be held as far north as Laoag and south as Gen. Santos. That’s in the season-opening Philippine Cup alone.

Marcial said they are also negotiating for the same number of provincial games in the second conference.