MANILA, Philippines - The country’s hosting of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship proved to be a monstrous hit marked by Gilas Pilipinas’ successful campaign that drew a whopping total gate receipts of P47.9 million at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
An average of nearly 11,000 fans cheered for the Nationals in their nine games in the Asian meet – the biggest sports spectacle seen in the country in years.
The biggest crowd of over 19,000 came to watch the Philippines-South Korea match, the climax of Gilas Pilipinas’ epic performance leading to their entry to the 24-team 2014 FIBA World Cup draw.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios said the successful staging of the FIBA Asia Championship is a big toast for the whole nation.
He mentioned the exemplary leadership of SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, the big fighting heart of Gilas Pilipinas and the Filipino people who unwaveringly stood behind the national team.
Barrios also lauded the efforts of the men and women that manned the local organizing committee, especially the volunteers.
The nine FIBA Asia playing days drew nearly P50 million in gross ticket sales, far exceeding the conservative P10 million projection of Barrios and Pangilinan’s own forecast of P20 million.
That was on top of the income generated from the TV coverage.
“I don’t know yet the total expenses. I’ve yet to see also LOC’s report on TV income and expenses,†Barrios told The STAR.
High expectation among insiders, however, is that Pangilinan could easily recoup the reported P70 million he shelled out to cover all the expenses in the mammoth event.
The regional world qualifier became a big attraction and big hit in cash register after Gilas Pilipinas topped its group in the elimination round and lined itself up for a run in the medal plays versus Kazakhstan, South Korea and Iran.
“The initial ticket prices were based on the PBA ticket prices. They increased the prices and separated the morning games to the evening session when Gilas Pilipinas advanced to the knockout stage,†said Rickie Santos, the PBA operations/technical chief who worked with the LOC in the FIBA Asia event.
VIP tickets were pegged at P3,800 in the quarterfinals, P4,500 in the semis and P5,300 in the finals. It’s P2,300, P2,800 and P3,300 for Patron A, P2,000, P2,500 and P3,000 Patron B, P1,500, P2,000 and P2,500 Lower A, and P1,000, P1,500 and P2,000 Lower B.
The event also hit significant amount in morning games where tickets were sold at P500, P300, P250 and P200 for Patron A, Patron B, Lower A and Lower B sections, respectively.
Prices were more than fivefold in the black market or among the scalpers.
Pangilinan has expressed readiness to do it all over again.
But is FIBA Asia willing to give the hosting rights to Philippines again?
“With the crowd that you have, your organizational expertise, your passion for the game, why not? But of course, you have to go through the process of bidding,†an LOC member quoted FIBA Asia secretary general Hagop Khajirian as saying.