MOST of the tickets for the deciding game of the PBA Governors Cup Finals have been sold, but that has not discouraged hundreds of fans from lining up for the few hundreds left as the league anticipates another record turnout for the final game of the 2014 season.
Fans braved the unpredictable weather and started showing up outside the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon, hoping to get their hands on the few general admission and SRO (standing room only) tickets left for Game Five between San Mig and Rain or Shine.
PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said the league has prepared to release at least 5,000 general admission tickets priced at P150 each in anticipation of a banner crowd based on the increasing gate attendance during the past two matches of the best-of-five series.
Game Three attracted a crowd of 17,217 before it swelled to 18,168 in Game Four.
“Marami na rin kasing nagpa-reserve na ng tickets bago pa mag-Game Four, kaya as of Tuesday ng tanghali, general admission na lang ang natira,” Marcial told Spin.ph.
Not even an afternoon downpour could dampen the spirits of the fans who started gathering outside the red gate of the Big Dome just after noon.
“Kaninang mga alas-dos, nagsimula nang dumating ang mga tao. May pumunta na dito kahit na may ulan. Nagtatanong pa nga at gustong bumili ng general admission na tickets,” an Araneta Coliseum security guard said.
Surprisingly, scalpers are scarce around the area, perhaps because of a campaign by the Quezon City police against ticket scalping and snatching in the vicinity of the Araneta Center.
However, ticket touts are more aggressive online, with one vendor putting up a post on a popular buy-and-sell site selling premium tickets for Game Five for P2,500.
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