Nearly all major sporting events in Metro Manila were forced to cancel their games yesterday due to stormy conditions brought about by typhoon “Lando”.
Hardest hit was the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) which was set to open its 41st season in grandiose fashion.
PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa said the decision was based on their paramount concern on the safety of their players, coaches, officials and thousands of paying fans who already bought tickets to watch the season opener that would have pitted a retooled Rain or Shine against perennial favorites Star Hotshots.
“The PBA decided to postpone today’s season opener due to bad weather. Instead we shall have our formal opening on Wednesday with the same game to be played,” said Narvasa.
PBA Media Bureau chief Willie Marcial said tickets for yesterday’s event could not be used for this Wednesday’s opening, noting the difference of the seating arrangement between Araneta and MOA.
“They can refund their tickets thru Araneta but they have to buy tickets for Wednesday’s opening in MOA. We will still have the same program and scheduled game but there will be changes in the scheduled time,” said Marcial.
The UAAP was also heavily affected as three events had to be postponed including the Men’s basketball double-header at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Matches between the University of the Philippines and the University of the East, and Far Eastern University and La Salle will have to be moved to a different schedule – most likely after the completion of the second round.
Also affected by the storm were the women’s basketball matches scheduled at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Beach volleyball games at the Sands by the Bay in MOA were also postponed and will be played today. The table tennis tournament will be moved to next Saturday.
The Shakey’s V-League games pitting Army against University of the Philippines and powerhouse PLDT Home Ultera against Kia Forte were also called-off.
Meantime, organizing EventKing Corp. also decided to cancel today’s scheduled opening of the 2015 Bingo Bonanza National Open badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
The opening matches, featuring two men’s singles, four men’s doubles and one mixed doubles, will instead be held tomorrow morning after the 8 a.m. team managers and coaches meeting.
Top notch badminton action resumes at 1 p.m. with eight explosive women’s Open singles matches to be followed by 16 men’s Open singles games in the tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez and organized by EventKing Corp. and sponsored by Gatorade, Glorietta, Smash Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee.