AFTER TWO successful hostings of Davis Cup tennis tournaments, the Lapu-Lapu City Government will embark on yet another big-time sporting event when it hosts an out-of-town game of the upcoming PBA Philippine Cup.
Lapu-Lapu City will serve host to a showdown between the Petron Blaze Boosters and the new-look Alaska Aces on Nov. 5 at the newly built Hoops Dome.
“So far, the PBA only has seven out-of-town games in the coming Philippine Cup and we feel very luck to host one of that out-of-town games,” said Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Harry Radaza.
The 37th season of the PBA will officially open on Oct. 1 with teams duking it out for the Philippine Cup title.
“It will be the first time that the city will be hosting a PBA game and the city is intent on putting up a good show,” said Radaza, who is also the head of the city council sports and tourism committee.
Radaza said the Hoops Dome could accommodate a PBA game.
“Wooden flooring, electronic scoreboard, locker rooms and at least 4,000 capacity were the requirements set by the PBA and the Hoops Dome has all that,” said Radaza, during the event’s press launching at Maz’s Restaurant at SM-City Cebu.
Radaza said in the Pinoy Pride 7 boxing event, the venue accommodated at least 9,000 people while 10,500 people attended the concert of Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao.
Radaza said hosting the event will not cost the city a single centavo as they have tapped the support of several corporate sponsors.
Radaza said the city really worked hard to have the Petron-Alaska matchup because the two squads have key players coming from the south.
“We all know that Dondon Hontiveros is back with Petron and Alaska has Ariel Mepaña and Cyrus Baguio. So this is going to be an interesting game for the Cebuanos, said Radaza.
Tickets will be available starting Sept. 20 at Chris Sports (Ayala and SM-Cebu City branches), Lapu-Lapu City Hall, Sta. Rosa barangay hall and at the mini city hall of Olango Island. Prices are pegged at P100 for general admission, upper box P300, lower box 500 and ring side P800./EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA