Same-Same – but different

It’s basketball

Sunday 01.03.2026 – evening.

At Metro Arena the Finnish Men’s National Team (Susijengi) play their FIBA World Cup qualifying game at the sold out venue vs Belgium.

Meanwhile about 100 kilometres to the west, at Perniön Urheilutalo – PeU-Basket play Men’s D1B game vs Kataja Basket Academy.

The game is the same, the venues and settings different.

Story

You would think that a game of the National team would affect the amount of spectators in Perniö? But no – they have a steady 170-190 per game, apart from a BIG game vs Ura Basket that reached 250 spectators for the local derby.

After all, the Men’s Korisliiga teams were saying how their numbers were down BIG when the Finnish Men’s ICE HOCKEY!! team was playing …

It goes to show that what I have been saying about the D1B or even D1A – the people who come to these games, come there because the players of the home team are ‘their own’. The connection to the team is deeper in some levels to a Korisliiga team, for example.

Perniö

Let’s look at the game in Perniö :

ARRIVAL : I am on dog-sitting duties at home this week, so only arrived to the venue TWO minutes before the tip-off. But I got the car parked 40 meters from the front door. Grabbed my cameras and headed inside.

A friendly smile to the person selling tickets, then shoes off and wooly socks on.. and through the door and just as the tip-off was tossed in the air.. I sat on the baseline under the basket.

At Metro-Arena – arriving two minutes before the game.. I probably would have missed the first quarter.. but that’ because parking is a nightmare there these days.

So – point goes to Perniö in the opening round. PERNIÖ 1 – SUSIJENGI 0

SHOOTING POSITIONS : Come on – Perniö beats Metro Arena (or any FIBA hosted game) hands down – and why, you ask??

Well, in Perniö, I get to sit IN FRONT of the advertising – so I can shoot from the court level.. not having to shoot over the LED-advertising boards. (more about these one in the future!).

I can move all along the baseline – I have quick access to the concourse area to get a higher vantage point.

So – another point for Men’s D1B vs Susijengi : PERNIÖ 2 – SUSIJENGI 0

FOOD/CATERING : Perniö – the usual Yönakki (2 for 3 euros) is quick, then there is a cafeteria where coffee and donuts go fast at half-time, alongside soft drinks and sweets/crisps.

Waiting time seems to be max. 90 seconds on the queue as I sit there talking to a fellow photographer ( go and check out his work on Instagram at @avaruushirvi ).

I am slightly disappointed that Perniö game does not have their local sausages being grilled outdoors..

No point awarded for this – as I don’t know how to rate one better than the other

LITTLE CONCLUSION : I mean, as someone wise told me recently … when people come to basketball games.. they don’t actually give a f%&k about the basketball. They come there to be entertained..

Whether the entertainment for you is sitting with 6500 fans and seeing the best players of Finland and Belgium, or whether it is sitting with 178 fans and seeing the best players from Perniö/Salo and Joensuu.. well – that, my friend .. that is totally your call and choice.

Although – I might want to add that there are people who sit and watch the games and are watching it and cursing silently as Player X does not execute the Spanish ball screen perfectly and the slip to the gap doesn’t work due to this and the five guy pops out too soon and it leave the wing exposed and they need to hedge and ISO to get the advantage back! (and yes, people who are interested in these things.. do not read my blog 😉 )

In the end

Hey – in the end, these are just my musings here – whether you go to a basketball game because you support your local team in Perniö, whether you go to a game to see Slim Jesus running from half court to a free dunk, whether you go to a game to watch the tactics… or whether you just go to the game to enjoy the atmosphere…

In the end I am GLAD and HAPPY – that you have gone to a game, because… well, because basketball games are DEFINITELY worth going to… no matter what your reasons are behind going there.