Pangasinenses and fans from nearby provinces during the PBA All- Star Game in Calasiao Pangasinan on March 31. (Photo courtesy of Vijay Vasandani)
CALASIAO, Pangasinan -- The Double V Productions, a sports event coordinator in Pangasinan, is eyeing another hosting of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games in the province, this time for the playoffs or finals, following the success of PBA All-Star Weekend here last month.
Vijay Vasandani of the Double V Productions said some 4,000 Pangasinenses and residents from other provinces watched the PBA All-Star Pangasinan on March 31.
“In less than two years, we have hosted six PBA events in the province, specifically in Calasiao town. Of which are five out of town games and the recent is the All-Star Game. But our goal is not only to go provincial or out of town, if possible, we would like to bring in the province the playoffs or finals, but it will depend on the commissioner,” he said in an interview Wednesday,
Vasandani said 60 percent of the viewers were from Pangasinan, while 40 percent of them were from as far as Zambales and La Union.
“There are fanatics who would really go as far just to watch the game,” he said.
Vasandani noted that aside from bringing the games closer to the PBA fans in Pangasinan and its nearby provinces, hosting the games also promotes the province.
“We were able to promote the province through hosting the PBA. The logo of Pangasinan is all over the collaterals (advertising materials) and even in interviews, we keep on saying Pangasinan since we are Pangasinenses. We were asked by PBA to send list of places they could visit in the province and we did,” he said.
Vasandani noted that after the game, the PBA players visited the white sand beach of Bolinao.
The All-Star weekend was held in the province from March 29-31. Prior to the scheduled event, a promotional tour was held through a motorcade along Dagupan City and Calasiao town.
Meanwhile, Double V Productions will be donating 126 wheelchairs to charitable institutions.
The number of wheelchairs was the total number of dunks and three-point shots of the players in the PBA All-Star Game and the Rookie/Sophomore versus Juniors Game.
“A dunk or three-point is equivalent to one wheelchair. There were 44 dunks and three points in Rookie/Sophomore versus Juniors and 82 in the All-Star Game,” Vasandani said.
Vasandani’s family is known for philanthropic works. (PNA)
