ILOILO – There’s no doubt about it – the 2018 PBA All-Star Week was nothing but a rousing success.
Packing venues and delighting fans, there was unbridled joy the country’s premier basketball league delivered in its three-leg midseason extravaganza.
From Digos, Davao del Sur, where the sons of the South made their compatriots proud with a 144-130 victory over the Smart All-Stars; to Batangas City, where the Luzon All-Stars did all it could and fought until the end before falling, 152-149; and capping it off with the Visayans scoring a dominant 157-141 win in Iloilo, the PBA delegation left nothing but smiles on the people’s faces.
“Itong All-Star naman, para talaga ito sa mga fans. Ang importante sa atin, napapasaya natin yung mga kababayan natin na minsan lang natin napupuntahan,” said Commissioner Willie Marcial, who also served his first as the league’s chieftain.
The league’s 2018 mid-season extravaganza had Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Technology as major sponsor and supported by Peak Sports Apparel, Molten, PBA Rush-Cignal, Nature’s Spring, TAGHeuer, Gatorade, and Rain or Shine.
The first two venues drew considerable amount of fans, but the best was saved for last at University of San Agustin Gym here with the fans packing up to the rafters.
And the Ilonggos showed their appreciation with much gusto, cheering their idols for their dunk, triples, and ankle-breakers they made.
With Iloilo delivering an event to remember, the PBA sure will consider holding another event of this magnitude in this bustling city in the near future.
And it won’t be much of a surprise if there’s one already in the pipeline.
