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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Willie Marcial relieved Araneta fire happened without Game 6 crowd

Willie Marcial relieved Araneta fire happened without Game 6 crowd

Published Apr 21, 2022 01:06 am

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial was glad that the fire which took place Wednesday, April 20 didn’t happen during the scheduled Game 6 of the Governors’ Cup Finals which was later postponed.

Photo from JONAS TERRADO

Marcial thanked his lucky stars after the incident that occurred during the Grand Finals of the PBA 3x3 Grand Finals resulted in the finals game between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Meralco to be called off.

Game 6 was supposed to start at 6 p.m. or almost five hours after the blaze which was caused by a faulty wiring on the air handling unit located at the still-renovated Red Gate entrance.

“Buti nangyari na wala pang tao, na 3x3 pa lang,” Marcial said. “Kung kunwari 18,000 tayo or 19,000, so swerte pa din. Swerte pa din tayo na ngayon agad nangyari at di sa kalagitnaan ng Game 6.”

To say that it would be a catastrophic scene had the fire started a few moments or during Game 6 is no exaggeration, given the high gate attendance the league has seen since the series began.

Game 1 held at the Big Dome attracted 12,457 fans while the Mall of Asia Arena welcomed 12,248 and 16,104 spectators for Game 2 and Game 3.

A total of 17,298 watched Game 4 while a pandemic record of 18,251 witnessed Game 5, both at Araneta.

Game 6 will now be held Friday at MOA, with Ginebra aiming to close out Meralco and win its fourth Governors’ Cup title in the last five editions.

Game 7, if necessary, is on Sunday with the venue still being determined.

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PBA Finals Smart Araneta Coliseum Willie Marcial pba
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