Playtime Filoil Centre
{{Short description|Sports arena in Metro Manila, Philippines}}
{{distinguish|San Juan Gym}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Playtime Filoil Centre
| nickname = {{unbulleted list|The Arena|San Juan Arena}}
| logo_image =
| logo_size = 175px
| image = Filoil EcoOil Centre - entrance 2022.jpg
| caption = The arena exterior as Filoil EcoOil Centre in 2022.
| location = Santolan Road, Corazon de Jesus, San Juan, Philippines
| coordinates = {{coord|14.605574|121.032914|dim:30_region:PH_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground =
| opened = 2006
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = San Juan city government
| operator = Homegrown Olympic Management Enterprises
| architect = Edgar C. Lee{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
| surface =
| construction_cost =
| tenants = Leagues and events:
Philippine Basketball Association
Premier Volleyball League
Philippine Super Liga (formerly)
UAAP (2008–present)
NCAA (2007–present)
Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup (2007–present)
Philippine Collegiate Champions League
Teams:
San Miguel Alab Pilipinas (ABL) (2018–2019)
San Juan Knights (MPBL/PSL) (2018–present)
| former_names = Filoil Flying V Arena
Filoil Flying V Centre (2016–2022)
Filoil EcoOil Centre (2022–2025)
| seating_capacity = 6,000
}}
The Arena, known as Playtime Filoil Centre for sponsorship reasons, is an is an indoor arena located along Bonny Serrano Avenue in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines.
History
The Playtime Filoil Centre first opened as The Arena in 2006.{{cite news |title=PBL Silver Cup di-dribol ngayon |url=https://www.philstar.com/palaro/2006/11/11/368227/pbl-silver-cup-di-dribol-ngayon |access-date=18 May 2025 |work=The Philippine Star |date=11 November 2006}} The Arena started adopting names under the Filoil brand in 2009 when Filoil Philippines Corporation became the naming rights sponsor.{{cite news |title=San Juan venue renamed Filoil Flying V Arena |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2009/03/18/449225/san-juan-venue-renamed-filoil-flying-v-arena |access-date=18 May 2025 |work=The Philippine Star |date=18 March 2009}}
In 2015, the San Juan city government turned over the operations of the venue to the Homegrown Olympic Management Enterprises (HOME).{{cite news|url=http://www.spin.ph/offbeat-stories/news/filoil-flying-v-arena-renovations-san-juan-city-home-homegrown-olympic-management-enterprises-multi-sport-events|title=Filoil Flying V Arena operator plans upgrade from sports center to complete events venue|publisher=Sports Interactive Network Philippines|last=Terrado|first=Reuben|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=March 4, 2016}}
Facilities
The Playtime Filoil Centre has a seating capacity of 6,000.{{Cite web |last=Agcaoili |first=Lance |date=March 24, 2022 |title=PVL to welcome back fans at full capacity starting Monday |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/455844/pvl-to-welcome-back-fans-at-full-capacity-starting-monday |access-date=December 16, 2022 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}
Names
The Arena is currently named Playtime Filoil Centre since May 2025 due to sponsorship by betting website, Playtime and petroleum firm, Filoil Philippines Corporation.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-18 |title=Playtime Filoil Centre new name of iconic San Juan venue |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/playtime-filoil-centre-new-name-of-iconic-san-juan-venue-a2437-20250518?ref=home_feed_1 |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} It was inaugurated as The Arena in 2006. Filoil has naming rights over the indoor arena since 2009.{{cite web|title=UP takes over La Salle's V-League spot |url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/155707/UP-takes-over-La-Salles-V-League-spot |work=GMANews.tv |date=April 5, 2009 |access-date=April 8, 2009}} The venue has been known under various names since then.
It is also known alternatively as the Entertainment and Recreational Arena of the People or The Arena.{{cite news |title=Empty seats dot San Juan Arena in Manny Pacquiao's sendoff game with KIA |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/manny-pacquiao-the-arena-kia-motors-blackwater-pba-2015-commissioners-cup |access-date=18 May 2025 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=28 February 2015 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Super Liga games at The Arena free to public |url=https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/super-liga-games-at-the-arena-free-to-public |access-date=18 May 2025 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=8 July 2013 |language=en}}
Tenants
The arena has been used by numerous leagues across the country. In basketball, the Philippine Basketball Association, University Athletic Association of the Philippines (since 2009), National Collegiate Athletic Association (since 2007) are among the leagues that have used the venue for their games. It has also hosted basketball games of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and Pilipinas Super League as the home venue of the San Juan Knights franchise since 2018. Alab Pilipinas also used the arena as one of its home venues during their time in the ASEAN Basketball League. The Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup (since 2007) and Philippine Collegiate Champions League are among the events that take place in the Centre.
The arena has also become known as the country's "volleyball central", having also hosted its share of volleyball leagues such as the Premier Volleyball League and the defunct Philippine Super Liga. The UAAP and NCAA also use the venue for their respective volleyball tournaments. The Centre was also used as a main venue for the San Juan Mayor's Cup, a basketball and volleyball tournament for the San Juan government employees.
Gallery
File:Filoil Flying V Centre SEA Games 2019.jpg|The arena as the Filoil Flying V Centre for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games
File:2019 SEA Games Esports Tekken 7 THA vs PHI.jpg|An esports match inside the arena during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games
File:SEA Games 2019 at Filoil Center - basketball 3x3 men final (San Juan; 12-02-2019) 3.jpg|2019 Southeast Asian Games 3x3 basketball final
File:Filoil_EcoOil_Centre_-_Interior_-_2022.jpg|Court in 2022.
File:Filoil EcoOil Centre San Juan 2025-04-11.jpg|Courtside in 2025 during the NCAA Season 100 Juniors' Basketball Finals.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081026102604/http://www.sanjuancity.gov.ph/index.htm City of San Juan official website]
- [http://www.sanjuancity.gov.ph/about/landmarks/thearena.JPG Arena in San Juan]{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the San Juan Knights
| years = 2018–present
| before = San Juan Gym
| after = current
}}
{{s-end}}
{{navboxes|list=
{{San Juan Knights}}
{{Philippine Basketball Association arenas}}
{{MPBL venues}}
{{Sports venues in the Greater Manila Area}}
}}
Category:ASEAN Basketball League venues
Category:Basketball venues in the Philippines
Category:Buildings and structures in San Juan, Metro Manila
Category:Indoor arenas in the Philippines
Category:Philippine Basketball Association venues