BOCAUE -- Consider it a promise delivered on the part of PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.
Vowing to make the in-venue experience a more exciting one this 44th season, the league brought out the big guns and trotted out a highly entertaining opening ceremony at Philippine Arena on Sunday.
Performers like Nicole Asensio, TNT Boys, and Shanti Dope opened the curtains for the traditional parade of teams, but the energy picked up a notch when Parokya ni Edgar held the court and had a mini-concert before the opening day game between Ginebra and TNT.

The popular rock band even brought in two fans to jam with them as they played "Bagsakan" during the break to the delight of the crowd.
For Marcial, the favorable reaction to the opener was a good sight to see as he hopes to keep up the excitement in the games as the season goes.
"Pipilitin natin ma-sustain yan, na may entertainers, DJs, spinners sa games," he said. "Gusto kong mabuhay yung atmosphere. Gusto ko iba ang experience nila pag nanood sila ng live. Marami tayong pa-raffle at entertainment sa loob ng venues."
Marcial, who was on his first opening day as the league commissioner, is also overwhelmed with the 23,711 gate attendance the PBA drew inside the world's largest indoor arena in the kickoff of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup.
"Hindi ko akalain na ganyang kadami yung tao. Masaya," he said as he hopes that the PBA continues to put smiles on every fan's faces.
"Kayo na maghuhusga kung ano sa tingin inyo, kung maganda ang ginagawa natin o hindi."

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