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55,000 fans and nowhere to hide: what it’s like to play in basketball’s biggest arena

25 Sep 2026, 09:00 GMT By Jacob Uitti
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Article 55,000 fans and nowhere to hide: what it’s like to play in basketball’s biggest arena
Credit: Jacob Uitti

The sprawling Philippine Arena hosts games in a country of fanatical basketball fans. Jamie Malonzo was lucky enough to play there in a Game 7 Jamie Malonzo got there early, one of the first players to arrive. He knew this was a different thing altogether. He knew the 55,000-capacity Philippine Arena was something else. As Malonzo warmed up, the crowd began to file into the stands for Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Fans tried to get his attention, yelling and waving their arms madly. This game, Malonzo knew, would be unlike any other he had ever played in. Continue reading...