Photo credit: PBA

As the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) marks its 50th season, the league is set to expand its reach beyond local courts — bringing the excitement of Filipino basketball to fans overseas. Commissioner Willie Marcial has confirmed that the league will stage official games in Dubai and Bahrain as part of its golden anniversary celebration beginning this October.

This milestone season is not just about honoring history but also pushing the boundaries of where the PBA can go — quite literally. A game is already being planned for Dubai in October, while talks are ongoing for a possible doubleheader in Bahrain by December.

Fresh from his trip to Dubai, Marcial shared details of his meetings with Dubai Basketball Development Manager Ellie Flemings and Coca-Cola Arena Dubai General Manager Mark Jan Kar. The discussions took place during the Basketball Champions League Asia, where the Meralco Bolts represented the PBA on the regional stage.

“Some teams have already been considered to play, but we’ll hold off on announcing them for now,” Marcial said, emphasizing that planning is still underway.

The overseas interest doesn't end there. Marcial also revealed that Qatar and Saudi Arabia have expressed a desire to host PBA games next year — a clear sign of growing international appreciation for Asia’s first professional basketball league.

While Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have previously hosted exhibition matches, it’s Dubai that holds the distinction of staging official league games, including the well-received 2019 Governors' Cup series featuring San Miguel Beer, NLEX, and Barangay Ginebra.

With plans unfolding for more international games, the PBA’s 50th season is shaping up not only as a celebration of its storied past but also as a bold step into a more global future — bringing Filipino basketball to fans both at home and abroad.