By REYNALD MAGALLON
Who says that the PBA’s popularity is fizzling out?
Definitely not the Bacolod fans who not only welcomed and hosted the PBA All-Stars with open arms but also showed how the league is being loved and celebrated in the City of Smiles.
Critics and bashers, mostly online, pointed out how the league’s attendance had dwindled and its popularity had become less and less through the years but fans in Bacolod showed otherwise especially after a sellout crown in the All-Star game between Team Japeth and Team Barroca.
“One of the successful all-stars na ginawa natin,” said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial who was very much pleased at the end of the four-day festivities in Bacolod.
Some fans weren’t even able to get inside the St. La Salle Coliseum with the venue already reaching full capacity during the final day.
“Ang dami pang tao non sa labas so humingi rin tayo ng pasensya sa mga hindi nakapasok,” said Marcial
The league chieftain also pointed out how warm the reception was to the PBA by the Bacolod fans not only in the games but more so in the immersions that the league did during its stay.
The PBA all-stars visited the Negroc Occidental High School with wild cheers from students welcoming the delegation. In return, the PBA donated P500,000 to the school which was the oldest educational institution in the province.
Fans also get the chance to get up close with the players in meet-and-greet events at the Ayala Mall in Bacolod.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga fans talagang niyayakap ng mga taga-Bacolod ang PBA,” he added.
The PBA, of course, returned the favor and treated the fans with a thrilling show with both Team Japeth and Team Barroca showing off the dance moves during their dance-off which ended in a draw.
The game itself was equally entertaining with clutch plays from Robert Bolick capping off the nail biting 140-140 stalemate between the two teams.
Looking forward to next year, the PBA hopes to build up from the success of the All-Stars in Bacolod.
While the next host of the festivities is yet to be determined with a couple of provinces expressing their interests, the league is looking at further innovations to the All-Star events including the return of the Slam Dunk contest and retaining the three-point shootout between the bigs.
