Probable Cancellation of Celebrations by PBA
PULLING THE PLUG ON THE PBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND?
Manila - It's looking grim for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Star Weekend in 2025. With venue issues yet to be ironed out, a cancellation seems increasingly probable.
Originally slated for Davao and Panabo from May 2-4, the event took a hit due to security concerns after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who hails from Davao City.
An attempt to reschedule the event for May 16-18 in another unnamed province fell flat as the new host wasn't available during those dates.
Commissioner Willie Marcial shed light on the situation during a broadcast on April 23, 2025, stating that with the league's tight schedule, extending the event beyond May simply isn't feasible, pointing towards the potential first cancellation since the pandemic hiatus from 2020 to 2022.
Taking Stock
- Cancellation Odds: With no solid lead on a new venue, the PBA is at the brink of calling off the entire event, according to Commissioner Marcial.
The Root of the Problem
- Security Concerns: In the original plan, Davao City was chosen as the venue. But, security issues arose following the arrest of Duterte, adding complications to the mix.
- Keeping the Calendar Close: The transfer to another province and the subsequent rescheduling attempts didn't pan out, with the new destination being unavailable for the proposed dates.
What's at Stake
- Dialogue with Provinces: Despite much negotiation with officials from a mystery province, the PBA hasn't been able to seal a deal.
- Fan and Team Expectations: If the event ends up being canceled, fans and teams who had their hopes set on this seasonal highlight would undoubtedly be left disheartened.
- The cancellation of the PBA All-Star Weekend in 2025 seems increasingly likely, given the ongoing venue issues and the tight league schedule.
- Commissioner Marcial recently stated that the PBA might face its first cancellation since the pandemic hiatus from 2020 to 2022 if a new venue isn't found.
- Originally scheduled for Davao and Panabo, the event was moved due to security concerns after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
- Subsequent attempts to reschedule the event in another unnamed province proved unsuccessful, as the new host was unavailable during the proposed dates.
- If the event is indeed cancelled, it could leave fans and teams who had been looking forward to this seasonal basketball highlight feeling disappointed.
