By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Following the successful hosting of Iloilo province’s Passi City over the weekend, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Star Weekend will remain in Western Visayas next year.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial announced on Monday, March 13, that the annual PBA festivity will return to Bacolod City next year as per the agreement with City Mayor Alfredo Benitez.

“Nagka-usap kami ni Atty. Benitez sa meeting namin [last Sunday, March 12] before ‘yung game ng All-Star,” Marcial said in an interview.

“At Bacolod City na ang magho-host sa susunod [na PBA All-Star],” he added.

It will be the first time in 16 years that the league will hold the All-Star Weekend in the City of Smiles, which was the hometown of a number of current PBA players.

The 2008 All-Star Weekend was held in Bacolod where the South All-Stars defeated the North All-Stars, 163-158, in the lone All-Star Game in PBA history that went into overtime after ending the regulation locked at 149-all.

Marcial said he was happy with the turnout for the 2023 PBA All-Star Weekend at the City of Passi Arena, where they received a warm welcome from the Ilonggo basketball fans who have waited since their hosting was first reported in 2020.

“Makikita mo naman ang warm reception sa mga players. Masaya sila, simula sa Skills challenge, ‘yung Obstacle, Three-Point [Shootout], sa Slam Dunk, sa RSJ, hanggang sa All-Star [game],” Marcial said.

The PBA Commissioner further said that the Passi City All-Star Weekend is one of the most successful as far as fan receptivity is concerned, considering that the country is still under the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Masaya talaga ang atmosphere, and to me, eto ‘yung isa sa pinaka-masaya na All-Star [game]. Makita mo naman na sabik din ang mga tao,” Marcial said.

This year’s PBA All-Star game saw Team Japeth defeating Team Scottie, 140-136, where Paul Lee scored 32 points, including seven four-point shots, to be named Most Valuable Player./ASC, WDJ