For the 2025–26 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, the championship series will be played without any game at the historic Araneta Coliseum (Big Dome) — marking the first time this has happened since the 2021 Philippine Cup Finals. Historically, the Big Dome has been the iconic venue for PBA Finals games because of its large capacity and central location in Metro Manila, hosting countless memorable championship moments over the years.
This year’s finals — featuring the San Miguel Beermen and TNT Tropang 5G — will instead use alternative arenas such as the Ynares Center and the SM Mall of Asia Arena, giving fans in other parts of the region easier access to the biggest games of the season.
- Change of tradition: The Big Dome has been almost synonymous with PBA Finals action for years, so this shift highlights the league’s growing flexibility in venue selection.
- Fan access: Using multiple arenas may help bring the grand finals experience closer to fans outside traditional hotspots.
- Broader reach: Spreading games across different venues reflects how the PBA is adapting to fan demand and logistics in a growing basketball landscape.