SINCE it was opened in 2006, the San Juan Arena, now known as PlayTime Filoil Centre, has seen many collegiate sports history made there.
Located at the heart of San Juan City, the 8,000-seater venue has witnessed unknown athletes achieving superstardom, teams rising to the occasion, leagues making their mark, and many games becoming part of sports lore.
READ Playtime Filoil Centre new name of iconic San Juan venue
Because of these, the arena has established itself as reputable alternate to host big and unforgetabble events, matching those held in the city's traditional sports centers such as the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Mall of Asia Arena, and the Philsports Arena.
A new name for the venue has left many nostalgic thinking of the many magic moments that transpired inside the old one.
Here are some of them:
‘Volleyball Central’
The Arena in San Juan isn’t called ‘Volleyball Central’ for nothing.
For a longtime, it was the home of the Shakey’s V-League, the pioneering volleyball league that gave birth to today's trend-setting, crowd-pleasing professional leagues, the prime example being the Philippine Volleyball League (PVL).
University of Santo Tomas and San Sebastian built its cult following here, but it’s also on these hallowed walls where Alyssa Valdez won the first of her many championships when Ateneo won the Shakey's V-League 8th Season 1st Conference in 2011 over Adamson.
Paint the arena green
Coinciding with that era was La Salle’s dominance in the UAAP women's volleyball.
None more memorable than in 2012 when the Lady Spikers completed a 14-0 two-round elimination sweep in the UAAP Season 74 women’s volleyball tournament where Abigail Maraño, Cha Cruz, and Michele Gumabao became legends.
In the championship series, however, the Ateneo Lady Eagles, led by Valdez, stunned the Lady Spikers to take Game 1. The win spoiled what could have been a championship for the ages had La Salle swept the series. But the Taft-based team regrouped and handily won the next two matches capped off by a straight-set sweep in Game Three.
Mbala arrival
Before Ben Mbala became the legend that he was in Taft, he was an uber-athletic forward who shone for the Southwestern University in Cebu.
Upon his arrival in Manila where his team was making an appearance, he made sure he made a strong impression.
Metro Manila folks saw greatness as Mbala put up 41 points as he carried SWU to a stunning victory over University of Santo Tomas in the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).
After that, he became the object of heavy recruitment by Manila teams and he selected to play for La Salle and gave the team a UAAP championship.
The legend of Berto
Speaking of La Salle, Robert Bolick was in its lineup. But maybe because the team was too laden with talent, Bolick hardly saw action. He then decided that La Salle was not for him and the Ormoc-born guard moved to San Beda.
Maybe getting back at his former school for not appreciating his talent was not in his cards. But when an opportunity presented itself, Bolick made sure that La Salle will regret not having him.
He drilled the booming three over the outstretched arms of Santi Santillan as the Red Lions completed an 11-0 run to win the 2017 Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup title.
A year after, it was also on the same floor where he further established his basketball credentials by torching Arellano with 50 points in NCAA Season 94.
Bubble champs
The COVID-19 pandemic caused sports to take cover and the NCAA was no different.
Though the oldest collegiate league held its Season 97 behind closed doors at La Salle Greenhills, it eased its restrictions and staged its championship series inside the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
There, Letran cruised its way to back-to-back crowns, escaping Mapua in what would be the second of its dynastic three-peat.
Making that title romp more special was that 75-65 Game Two conquest in San Juan completed a perfect 11-0 campaign for the Knights that turned out to be Rhenz Abando's lone year in Muralla.
Going online
Thiough synonymous with basketball and volleyball, the venue also hosted the esports competition during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
The Philippines claimed three gold medals in the sport, winning in Dota 2, Starcraft, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
Sibol's MLBB conquest was the sweetest with that being the historic first esports gold in the biennial tilt as it came from behind to topple Indonesia for the throne.
Lowlights
There were many highlights at the Arena, but lowlights too, happened.
The most infamous of which, of course, was John Amores’ outburst during his time with Jose Rizal University in an unassuming NCAA Season 98 back in 2022.
There was also that leaked footage of Ricci Rivero denying a fan a photo opportunity in the dugout in the Filoil Preseason Cup back in 2018.
That's not even mentioning the number of skirmishes that the San Juan venue saw over the years.
What's your best sporting memory inside The Arena in San Juan?
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