How much does it cost to see Team Philippines versus their Middle Eastern rivals?
The final window of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers is less than a month away, which means we’re going to see the latest version of Gilas Pilipinas take on Lebanon and Jordan one more time.
To experience it up close, we’ve got to buy tickets. But don’t panic. We have more than enough time to manage our finances and make it to the Philippine Arena on the 24th and 27th of February. All we need is a potent mix of imagination and adjustments.
Here are the ticket prices for watching the sixth window along with a few practical things to help in our budgeting.
General Admission (free seating) - P100
Lower Box (free seating) - P300
The Gen Ad and Lower Box prices are actually good. The view you’ll have may not be the best among the live audience, but that electrifying energy around the arena is the pinnacle of basketball experience. SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios said last year they’re working on the non-premium seats for the upcoming FIBA events to be as affordable as possible. And yep, they really did it.
Patron Bronze - P1,100
Patron Silver - P1,700
Forgoing a couple of lunch outs while at work and going without that overpriced coffee for several days should cover the expenses here. Come to think of it, you'll also get healthier. Maybe saving up for that Gilas ticket is the boost you need to follow through on your New Year's resolutions.
Patron Gold - P2,500
For Patron Gold, continue to avoid eating out, and perhaps add riding a bike to work. Keep doing this until mid-February, and you should be able to buy this fantastic seat.
Courtside VIP - P9,800
Do everything we said before, but now you have to exclude onions from your daily groceries. Imagine eating your corned beef and Bistek Tagalog without onions. Don't worry, you’ll survive. For the finishing touches, cancel your streaming app subscriptions and delete your shopping apps as well. No Netflix and no online budol means more savings.
Courtside VVIP - P16,300
Combine all the techniques we suggested. But if you don’t think that’s enough, sell stuff you don’t need. Organize a garage sale if you must.
Tickets are available at www.smtickets.com and at SM outlets nationwide.