BASKETBALL – THE official PBA games that will be played in the kingdom later this year will be part of the 50th anniversaries of both the Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
This was announced by the BBA, who officially signed the agreement with the PBA to host the contests in the kingdom – for the first time in the history of the league – from December 15 to 17.
The contract signing ceremony took place in Manila on Wednesday night between BBA president Alaa Mudara and PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on the sidelines of game five of the ongoing best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup finals.
Three of the most prominent PBA teams, who will be named in due course, are set to play in Bahrain. The games will coincide with the kingdom’s National Day celebrations, and they will be played at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
The squads that will be making the trip will be announced following the approval of the schedule of the 2025-26 PBA season, the BBA said yesterday in a statement.
Commenting on the signing, Mudara expressed his great pride in the BBA’s collaboration with the PBA and in Bahrain’s hosting of the PBA games. He noted that the event will represent an ideal opportunity for basketball fans to enjoy world-class competition, while also reflecting the kingdom’s advanced position on the continental and international sporting map.
“We look forward to welcoming the Filipino teams and providing the best organisational and technical environment befitting the event’s status,” said Mudara.
“We thank the PBA for its confidence in Bahrain and its tireless efforts to ensure the success of this historic partnership.”
Meanwhile, Marcial conveyed his delight in holding PBA games in the kingdom for the first time, and stressed that the event will be an exceptional part of the PBA’s 50th anniversary season.
Marcial added that the games will be broadcast on Filipino channel TV5, giving fans in the Philippines and around the world the opportunity to follow the action from Bahrain.
The PBA games in the kingdom will be the league’s first overseas foray since 2019, when it held a two-game offering in Dubai, also featuring three popular teams.
“We’ll have the same format like in Dubai, with three teams, with one playing back-to-back games,” Marcial was quoted as saying during the signing ceremony.
Mudara and a Bahraini delegation that included Muharraq Club basketball team skipper and former national team star Bader Abdulla Malabes also attended game five of the PBA Philippine Cup finals between San Miguel and TNT Tropang 5G. The half-Bahraini, half-Filipino sharp-shooter had played in the Philippines as a student-athlete with the De La Salle University Green Archers in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines.
Like Malabes, both his father Abdulla and Mudara were standout players on Bahrain’s senior men’s squad.
“When my dad broke the news, we were excited that we’ll see PBA games [in Bahrain],” Malabes told Philippine media. “Filipinos are lucky to have PBA games there. So we’ll see Filipino fans from Bahrain, from Saudi Arabia – they’ll be there watching the games.”
More details of the PBA event in the kingdom, including the availability of tickets, are to be announced soon by the BBA.
The PBA features 12 professional franchises. They include San Miguel, TNT, the Meralco Bolts, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Blackwater Bossing, Converge FiberXers, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, NLEX Road Warriors, NorthPort Batang Pier, Phoenix Fuel Masters, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, and Terrafirma Dyip.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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