Scalpers make a killing with tickets all sold out

As the Ateneo and UST players battle it out on the court this afternoon, their throng of supporters and fans will wage their own "war" off it — by trying to find their way in.

Alumni and students of both Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas with no tickets are expected to queue early at the Araneta Coliseum, hoping to buy one or two for Game 2 of the 69th UAAP Finals.

Sources from TicketNet, a computerized ticketing network, revealed that there are still some 4,000 tickets available early today since the patron, lower box and the bulk of upper box tickets have been sold out as early as Monday.

Of the remaining tickets, 3,000 are from general admission or the bleachers section while the other 1,000 are SRO (standing room only) upper box tickets.

The rest were distributed equally to Ateneo and UST, which have reportedly sold their share of tickets as early as yesterday.

"Sold out," Ateneo board representative Ricky Palou told The STAR yesterday. "We’ve tried to buy some more from Araneta Coliseum but it’s been sold out also."

Palou said each student or school staff is allowed to purchase two tickets with prices pegged at P300 for patron seats, P250 for lower box, P100 for upper box A, P50 for upper box B and P20 for general admission.

Tickets at the venue cost more with patron seat valued at P350, lower box at P300, upper box A at P120, upper box B at P70 and bleachers at P25.

Or for those who could really afford to be closer to the action, they may find some from scalpers, who are reportedly selling patron and lower box tickets amounting to P1,000-P1,500 as of yesterday.

"That’s only for today (yesterday), tomorrow expect the price to go even higher," said a source. — Joey Villar