One Sports
Monday, October 27, 2025
The Philippine Basketball Association reached out to their international Filipino fan base as they made their first stop in Dubai with a game between the San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. as part of league's 50th year celebration.
CONTINUING its golden anniversary in the City of Gold, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) made a grand Dubai comeback on Sunday, marking another shining moment in the league’s year-long PBA50 celebration.
It’s just the latest in the rich calendar of events commemorating five decades of Philippine basketball excellence for Asia’s first ever professional basketball league, and fittingly, Dubai served as the stage for this continuing journey.
In the heart of the United Arab Emirates — aptly known as the City of Gold — the PBA extended its golden celebration beyond Philippine shores, bringing the game to thousands of overseas Filipinos who have long kept the league close to their hearts.
It was the PBA’s way of saying thank you to the fans who continue to carry their passion for the sport even from thousands of kilometers away.
Returning to Dubai for the first time in six years, the league once again found a home in the Middle East as the 17,000-seater Coca-Cola Arena was packed to the rafters as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Miguel Beermen, two of the most iconic franchises in the PBA, battled it out in front of a roaring all-Filipino crowd.
All of those were broadcasted live and for free worldwide via the Pilipinas Live app and One Sports Youtube Channel.
The action certainly delivered, with San Miguel gutting out an 83-81 victory over Ginebra in the ongoing PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup with nine-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo anchoring the victory with 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Beermen’s second straight win.
The Gin Kings, though, still brandished that never say die spirit rallying from 14-points down and almost pulled off the stunner had Scottie Thompson connected with his potential game-winning four-pointer as time expired.
The Dubai stop is just part of the PBA’s ongoing effort to celebrate its 50th season with the fans wherever they may be, with Bahrain being the next stop this December.
Magnolia and Rain or Shine face off on Dec. 15, followed by the tussle between Rain or Shine and Ginebra on Dec. 17, as these games will be the league’s advanced Christmas treat to the fans – all while being a part of the league’s season-long celebration to commemorate this momentous milestone.