PBA eyes NCR return for Governors' Cup, mulls over opening doors to fans

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is mulling over opening the 2021 Governors' Cup with live fans at the venue pending the government approval for the league to stage the import-laced conference in Metro Manila.

League commissioner Willie Marcial said their top priority now is to have the games returned to the National Capital Region (NCR) after holding majority of the 2021 Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Should they secure permission to stage the games in Metro Manila, Marcial said the league could begin to seek government approval for fans to watch the matches live.

"We will first make sure that we are allowed to hold the games in NCR then after that, we will write another letter to IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) regarding allowing fans," Marcial said in Filipino in an interview with GMA News Online on Thursday.

"We are looking forward to that since the government has already allowed the reopening of cinemas."

A list of possible venues where the Governors' Cup could be held has not been disclosed, but Marcial said the league is hoping more fans could watch the games in person as it has been almost two years since the last time the PBA opened its doors to live viewers.

"We can't say yet what percentage of the venue's seating capacity we will allow as it really depends on the government's decision," he said.

The league is eyeing to open the reinforced conference within the third or fourth week of November. The inaugural PBA 3x3 tournament, where 13 teams will compete, is set to unfurl days earlier.

—MGP, GMA News