Bahrain Will Host PBA Games This December

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is set to hold its first official games in Bahrain as part of its 50th anniversary celebration.

Commissioner Willie Marcial and Bahrain Basketball Association president Alaa Mudara officially signed the contract for the 15-17 December 2025 event that will feature three PBA teams playing two games. Mudara is the president of the Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA).

Marcial said three teams, to be announced in due time, would travel to Manama to play the games there, with one of them needing to play twice.

"We will check the schedule first, but we already signed the contract," he said. "We've been so grateful that Bahrain invited us. This is the first time that the PBA will have an official game there.".

"We’ll have the same format like in Dubai (2019) with three teams, back-to-back games yung isa," said Marcial during a short presser at halftime of Game 5 of the All-Filipino conference finals between San Miguel and TNT at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on 23 July.

The BBA is also celebrating its silver anniversary celebration.

"It will be held during the National Day of Bahrain. It will be a great time to have these games on a holiday, so fans will have a great time watching the games," said Mudara, who was accompanied by former La Salle player Bader Malabes.

"We are very happy to host these games in Bahrain. We've done it in the past. A few national teams came to Bahrain, but this time, we have PBA teams coming to Bahrain for the fans to enjoy watching them, especially the Filipinos who are in the area, who cannot come to the Philippines to watch these games. That will be a very good chance for them to watch these live," said Mudara.

"It would be a great time to have these games. It will be a holiday, so even the basketball fans will have a great time watching the games during the holidays," he added. "I hope it wouldn't be the last. The BBA and PBA will be partners for the future."

Mudara was a former national player of Bahrain, which also saw action in the country duringthe 2013 FIBA Asia Cup in Manila.

Marcial said the PBA Manama games would be televised in the Philippines through broadcasting partners RPTV and Cignal.

"We’re so grateful na inimbitahan tayo ng Bahrain," he said.

The first ever play-for-pay league in Asia held back-to-back games in Dubai during the Governors’ Cup six years ago involving Barangay Ginebra, NLEX, and San Miguel.