Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ Executive Director Erika Dy. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

MANILA — The PBA's gate attendance has seemingly taken a dip in the recent conferences, including the on-going 2024 Philippine Cup.

The gate attendance of the 48-year-old league has become a topic of discussion on social media, particularly when compared to the crowds attracted by the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and the UAAP's volleyball tournament.

On Sunday, the UAAP women's volleyball Final 4 match between University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University drew 19,505 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena. On the same day, 17,843 fans watched the semifinals of the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

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Fortunately for the PBA, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is ready to offer any help if ever they are to seek any assistance regarding this matter.

"Nandito lang po yung SBP para suportahan yung PBA. Sila ay isang key member namin and stakeholder, and anytime they would need help, nandito kami para sa kanila," said SBP Executive Director Erika Dy during Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum in Manila. 

But according to Dy, as of the present, this concern is not being discussed  by the PBA and the federation.

"Wala po kaming current talks with the PBA regarding fielding a team, whether it's an age-group team or the actual Gilas team," said Dy when asked about some possible solutions that may aid the league's attendance concerns.

Still, she believes that the PBA and its governors are already doing their best to attend to the issue.

"I'm sure po that the Board of Governors of the PBA are also working very hard to push for the popularity of the PBA to get back to its glory days," said Dy. 

Meanwhile, Dy also addressed the PBA begging off from joining the 2024 edition of the Basketball Champions League Asia.

"For the Basketball Champions League, that is a direct relationship between FIBA and the PBA. The federation is only here to give its blessing," she explained, saying that the league's decision to not join this year is not within the SBP's discretion.

"As far as I'm concerned, there is no other league being tapped for that. The PBA is committed to joining the BCL except for this year."

"That is already a part of their agreement with FIBA, because they weren't able to put it in their calendar for this year," she continued.

Asked if the federation has plans to send a Philippine team to participate, Dy kept it short: "Wala. As far as I'm concerned, wala po."

However, Dy said that the PBA is expected to join the BCL after this year. 

"Pero for the succeeding years, you should see the PBA engaging with the BCL," bared Dy.

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