PBA Governors' Cup Finals to have stop in Lucena, possibly PH Arena too

The Philippine Arena in Bocaue could possibly witness another historic championship coronation. Dennis Acosta (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

ANTIPOLO--The PBA Governors' Cup Finals will have at least one game outside of Metro Manila.

In a copy of the schedule of the championship series between Ginebra and Meralco obtained by Dugout Philippines after the latter clinched the other finals berth at the Ynares Center on Monday night, the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena will be the site of the second game of the best-of-seven series on Jan. 10.

This will be the first time the said arena will host a finals game since it also hosted the Barangay and the Bolts in Game 1 of the 2017 Governors' Cup Finals on Oct. 13 of the said year.

Bocaue, however, could also get a shot at hosting not one but even two finals games. Should the series go to a Game 6 on Jan. 19, the game will be held at the town's latest prized landmark, the Philippine Arena. Game 7, which if necessary will take place on Jan. 22, will also happen at the said arena.

The PBA made history at the Philippine Arena also in the 2017 Governors' Cup Finals when record setting back to back crowds of more than 53,000 people--54,086 to be exact for Game 7--came to watch the last two games of the said series won by Ginebra.

The finals will start on Jan. 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, which will also host Games 3 and 4 on Jan. 12 and 15. If necessary, Game 5 will be played on Jan. 17 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

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