AT A GLANCE
Philippine sport saw fans come in droves whether it was in Metro Manila or outside of it to shatter record attendance in the country’s historic and busy sports year.
Basketball and volleyball never lacked support from Filipinos in 2023.
Year 2024 should only continue to get more of it.
Philippine sports saw fans come in droves whether it was in Metro Manila or outside of it to shatter record attendance in the country’s historic and busy year.
It started off strong as PBA fans greeted the new year braving traffic and the long drive to witness the Game 7 finals showdown between the Ginebra Kings and the foreign guest team Bay Area Dragons in the Commissioner’s Cup on Jan. 15.
The game drew a PBA all-time attendance of 54,589 fans inside the Philippine Arena with Ginebra emerging triumphant over Bay Area to clinch its 15th franchise title, keeping the trophy on local shores.
The Tim Cone-coached Kings shattered the six-year-old record 54,086 it previously shared with the Meralco Bolts in the largest indoor arena during their Game 7 duel in the 2017 Governors’ Cup.
When the FIBA World Cup rolled all the way to August, Filipino basketball loyalists also did not disappoint and showed up for the Gilas Pilipinas and filled the same venue.
Tournament co-host Philippines set the record for most attended FIBA game with 38,115-strong crowd as the Nationals kicked off the quadrennial meet in historic fashion against the visiting Dominican Republic.
Although the Karl-Anthony Towns-led Dominicans overcame the basketball-crazed Pinoys, 87-81, it proved the undying love of the country for the game and its national team which was spearheaded by another NBA star in Jordan Clarkson.
A huge chunk of the FIBA local organizing committee’s preparations was directed towards setting the said record among other things, the attendance eventually reached 700,665 during the course of the tournament which was simultaneously held at the Mall of Asia Arena and the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ultimately, the Philippines broke a 29-year record held by Team USA and Russia in the 1994 title contention.
Before the year ended, basketball scored another one, this time from the collegiate scene.
De La Salle ended its seven-year title drought against University of the Philippines in their historic UAAP Season 86 championship battle before the massive 25,192 new tournament crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Dec. 6.
In a closely-contested Game 3 affair, the Green Archers turned back the Fighting Maroons with a hard-fought 73-69 win that saw MVP Kevin Quiambao explode with 24 points to make their 10th title dream come true.
Both squads definitely saved the best for last as their series-tying games both ended in decisive wins before the decider.
La Salle and UP’s first-ever finals showdown in league history edged out the 25,138 record then shared between National University Bulldogs and Far Eastern University Tamaraws in Season 77.
More than a week shy of Christmas, Creamline and Choco Mucho took their sister act to the finale of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Second All-Filipino Conference.
The screaming colors of pink and purple erupted for a new PVL gate attendance 24,459 in Cubao, Quezon, City as the Cool Smashers held off finals debutants Flying Titans in Game 2 of the season-ending conference to claim their seventh overall franchise title on Dec. 16.
The mammoth crowd, though, was expected as both squads have respective legion of fans who would flock the venues even on regular games.
Creamline ultimately went all the way through its third All-Filipino title undefeated as volleyball received its fair share of local support this year.
