Over Three Decades of Philippine Basketball Heritage
Inaugurated in 1993 under the administration of late Pasay City Mayor Pablo Cuneta, the Cuneta Astrodome was conceived as a state-of-the-art municipal civic center and world-class sports coliseum. Named in honor of the mayor’s father, Enrique Cuneta, the venue quickly evolved into a hallowed battleground for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
1. Architectural Engineering & Concrete Dome Design
Engineered with a reinforced concrete stadium bowl and spanning steel-truss dome canopy, the Astrodome was purpose-built to deliver unobstructed views from all 12,000 seating positions. Its circular perimeter turnstiles (12 gates) were designed to allow swift entry and rapid crowd dispersal onto Roxas Boulevard and Derham Park within minutes.
2. Hallowed Ground for Legendary PBA Eras
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Cuneta Astrodome served as the primary alternate home to the Araneta Coliseum. It witnessed some of the greatest moments in Asian sports history:
- Ginebra’s “Never Say Die” Epics: Robert “Sonny” Jaworski directing gritty fourth-quarter comebacks under the roar of thousands of screaming fans.
- The 1996 Alaska Grand Slam: Tim Cone’s triangle offense mastery led by Johnny Abarrientos and Jojo Lastimosa capturing historic championships inside the Pasay dome.
- Collegiate Championships: Defining championship rivalries in the UAAP and NCAA that launched future national basketball icons.
3. Modern Renovations & Present-Day Renaissance
Under continuous modernizations by the City Government of Pasay, Cuneta Astrodome has received upgraded digital LED scoreboards, enhanced air-conditioning chiller networks, modernized locker facilities, and reinforced spectator security turnstiles—ensuring it remains a vibrant sports citadel for generations of Filipino basketball fans.
