START spreading the news: plans are afoot for a PBA game in New York City.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the Philippine Consulate in New York held preliminary discussions with the league about a possible game in June 2026 just in time for the Independence Day celebration.
A PBA delegation led by Marcial, PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, and vice chairman Alfrancis Chua was recently in New York City as part of the Philippine Independence Day celebration, and it was there where the talks started.
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“Talking stage, ang kausap namin ‘yung consul,” said Marcial on Wednesday. “Pinag-uusapan pa.”
If the plan pushes through, it will be the first, official or unofficial, PBA game to be played in the US. And it can serve as the highlight of a number of overseas games planned by the league for its golden-anniversary season.
The PBA is scheduled to go back to Dubai in October for a game, with a doubleheader in Bahrain also possibly happening in December.
The match in Dubai was sealed during Marcial’s recent trip to the UAE during the Basketball Champions League Asia where he met with Dubai Basketball Development manager Ellie Flemings and Coca-Cola Arena Dubai general manager Mark Jan Kar.
Aside from Bahrain, playdates in Saudi Arabia and Qatar are also being eyed.
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