With the Playtime FilOil Centre already booked for the NCAA on Nov. 7, San Juan could be playing a supposed playoff home game at another place again. MPBL (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes is aware that San Juan is up for another dilemma about having a playoff game at its home, the Playtime FilOil Centre.

The Knights already gave up the hosting rights to one playoff game as they were forced to borrow Pasig's homecourt, the Ynares Sports Arena, for Game 2 of their first-round series against the Pasay Voyagers on Oct. 22.

The Playtime FilOil Centre was booked for the NCAA basketball games at that time.

San Juan, seeded third in the North Division, would have been fine playing on the road in the divisional semifinals if Nueva Ecija, the second seed, qualified.

However, thanks to a buzzer-beater from former Rice Vanguard Hesed Gabo that silenced the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan on Tuesday night, the seventh-seeded Pangasinan Heatwaves made it to the national quarterfinals instead, and the Knights suddenly have another supposed home stand.

The MPBL scheduled both Game 2s of the North semis, Pangasinan versus San Juan and also Abra against Caloocan, on Nov. 7.

The problem: the NCAA already booked its reservation again at the Playtime FilOil Centre for the said date, particularly for the rematches of the opening night games, Mapua against Lyceum and College of St. Benilde versus San Beda.

In previous years, the MPBL would have been OK playing a San Juan playoff home game late into primetime so the NCAA could go on with their games as originally scheduled on the same day.

However, with the collegiate league going back to its old schedule of having high school games being played on the same game day as the college games, coupled with the scheduling agreement between the professional league and new broadcast partner Solar Sports, in which games have to be played from 6-10 p.m., the Knights are at risk of playing their supposed home game outside San Juan City again.

The scheduled NCAA Nov. 7 playdate will end with a primetime high school matchup between La Salle Greenhills and San Beda-Rizal.

This means the MPBL, if San Juan decides to push through with a home game at the Playtime FilOil Centre, may need to begin Abra-Caloocan Game 2 at some time after 8 p.m., with the possibility that the Pangasinan-San Juan game will end by the wee hours of Nov. 8.

"We know that, and I believe San Juan is addressing the situation that they have right now," Duremdes said during the formal launch of the MPBL's new partnership with 747 Live on Wednesday at World Kitchen inside Gateway Mall 2 in Quezon City.

The formalizing of the partnership between the league, founded by Manny Pacquiao, and the sports betting platform was one of the sidelights during the Thrilla in Manila 50th Anniversary, which Pacquiao helped organize through his MP Promotions, at the adjacent Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With the Knights known for having loud fans, especially during the playoffs, Duremdes said that it would be more fun if they got to play at home.

"It's really important for them na magkaroon sila ng home game, kasi nakita mo naman na iba yung vibes at excitement ng mga fans pag home game," he further said.

Duremdes added that San Juan is currently negotiating with the holding of a home game at the Playtime FilOil Centre, although he is also expecting that the team could be forced to play Game 2 of the North semis at another arena.