Tubod, Lanao del Norte – The Philippines is indeed a basketball-crazed country and this was proven again last August 10, 2011 when the provincial government of Lanao del Norte hosted the first-ever PBA Finals game in the colossal Mindanao Civic Center gymnasium, Sagadan, Tubod, this province.

Determined to even the series, the Tropang Texters played with intensity and matched every rugged play by the Petron Boosters leading to their 103-85 victory over the feisty Boosters.

“One thing that we wanted to do here in Game Two was to come out with a lot of physicality because they’re really beating us in giving us really rough fouls and hard fouls. It was seen here today,” said Talk ‘n Text coach Chot Reyes.

More than five thousand spectators from Lanao del Norte and nearby cities and provinces came to watch the thrilling Game 2 of the best-of-seven series.

“We are proud and happy that PBA chose Lanao del Norte to be the host of the first-ever Finals game here in Mindanao”, Governor Khalid Dimaporo expressed.

The province has regularly hosted out-of-town games of the premier basketball league in the country.

“All of the PBA teams have already seen action here at the Mindanao Civic Center. Truly, MCC is the home of the PBA here in Mindanao”, Information Officer Lyndon Calica declared.

Both the PBA officials and players picked MCC as their favorite venue outside of Metro Manila.

“So far the Mindanao Civic Center has the best facility to accommodate the games of the PBA outside of Metro Manila. We can definitely say that Lanao del Norte is the home of the PBA here in Mindanao” PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said in an earlier interview.
On December 9 to 11, this fast-rising province will again be hosting another international motocross competition in its world-class sporting facility – Mindanao Civic Center. VNL/PIO-LDN