UAAP fan bids P50,300 for a ticket

By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - September 22, 2008

Is an Ateneo-La Salle basketball game ticket really worth this much?

An unnamed basketball fan posted a bid of P50,300 for a patron ticket for yesterday’s game on eBay in what could be a record for a game ticket, or for any ticket for that matter.

The ticket owner posted a starting bid of P25,000. Two posted their bids, one for P50,000, the other for P50,300.

It could not be determined if the transaction was completed. But it just goes to show that some people will pay any price to watch an Ateneo-La Salle game.

A patron ticket gives the bearer a courtside seat, perhaps making him feel like actor Jack Nicholson when he takes his assigned spot at the Staples Center in Los Angeles during LA Lakers home games.

Other tickets were posted for sale at various prices, ranging from a low of P300 for bleachers whose original price is P55 to as much as P16,000 for upper box tickets whose price range is P75-P220.

But if you do the buying early and need not fret about seating, one can watch the game for P55 as what two students – one from La Salle, the other from Ateneo – did.

The Atenean was at the Araneta Coliseum box office window as early as Monday morning when the tickets for bleachers seats went on sale.

"Mahaba talaga yung pila noon at saka ang bilis maubos yung mga ticket sa ibaba," said student who did not give his name. "Yung ibang kakilala ko bumili sa scalper ang halaga mga P4,000."

On the other hand, a female student from La Salle got hers from a friend, who purchased it in school through the Office of Sports Development. There, people also lined up to purchase tickets.

"Binigay lang niya sa akin yung ticket pero sobra din yung pila sa school nung binili niya yung ticket," she said.

During yesterday’s games were stranded outside looking for tickets.
Unofficially, the gate was pegged at around 23,000.

The crowd started to gather early as six in the morning although the Big Dome gates were opened at around noon.

The South Gate, the entrance for players, coaches, officials, media and VIP, also had a huge line to deal as each person’s credential was scrutinized thoroughly.

Security was tight in and around the venue with K9 units used for added precaution.

Some scalpers were noted selling tickets before the big game, doing it as discreetly as possible.