MANILA, Philippines - Basketball fans know a good game – or a series for that matter – when they see one.
The recent KFC-Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup finals between Talk ‘N Text and Alaska drew a crowd of 18,388 at the Araneta Coliseum for the deciding Game 7 of the title series.
The match-up pitting the league’s best offensive team opposite the top defensive unit came to a fitting climax as the Tropang Texters watched the Aces miss four straight free throws and an easy undergoal stab in the stretch to escape away with a 93-89 win and claim their first PBA title in six years.
The gripping end to the season-opening tournament capped a great conference that saw the league earn gate receipts of P35,638,213.
The figures are slightly higher during the same stretch of the 2007-08 season when it grossed P33,173,049.47 as Sta. Lucia beat Purefoods in a similar Game 7 duel to win the Philippine Cup.
“Now fans know when a basketball game is good or not. The championship series between Talk `N Text and Alaska showcased a battle between two of the league’s top teams in the Philippine Cup, and they (PBA fans) came and watched it,” said PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios.
The PBA chief underscored the support extended by the Alaska and Talk ‘N Text organizations for the success achieved during the Philippine Cup Finals.
Barrios also cited the efforts made by the Talk ‘N Text franchise which provided novelties such as Higantes and live bands that circled and played at the venue’s gate, giving the do-or-die game a fiesta atmosphere.
Talk ‘N Text also brought in a helicopter that rained confetti around the Big Dome before the match.
Game 6 of the finals won by the Tropang Texters, 99-94, that sent the series into a sudden-death, attracted a crowd of 13,034.
Marked increase in gate receipts was also posted during the last Philippine Cup.
From the eliminations until the quarterfinals, the league earned P20,851,356 compared to P18,500,222 gained during the same period last year.
In the semifinals, the league grossed P4,838,950, up from last season’s figures of P4,453,931.
“We do extend our heartfelt thanks to the PBA fans for making this year’s Philippine Cup a success,” Barrios added.