Jaworski leads PBA reunion

MANILA, Philippines - Players from four of the nine pioneering ballclubs of the PBA will be making a rare appearance in a reunion date next week to highlight the league’s 35th Foundation Week celebration set April 9-18.

“This will be the highlight of the entire Foundation Week celebration,” said PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios. “We will be turning back the hands of time and paying tribute to these greats that evening.”

On April 9, 1975, an estimated crowd of 18,000 packed the Araneta Coliseum for a doubleheader that saw Mariwasa Noritake turn back Concepcion Carrier, 101-98, and Toyota edge U-Tex, 105-101.

Mariwasa was led by American import Cisco Oliver, who scored 48 points followed by the 17 of former Crispa Redmanizer great Adriano “Jun” Papa.

Jimmy Noblezada poured 24 points for Concepcion while Jimmy Mariano added 17. Joy Dionisio, who scored the PBA’s first basket, had 10 points.

Mariwasa took the first quarter, 29-21, and never trailed at the end of the next three periods.

In the main game, Ompong Segura scored 23 points for Toyota while Francis Arnaiz added 22, Big Boy Reynoso 17, Ramon Fernandez 13, and Robert Jaworski 11 points in a wildly applauded debut by the Comets.

Larry Mumar and Danny Florencio, another Redmanizer legend, led U-Tex with 29 points each while former Crispa mainstay Rudolf Kutch had 13.

Invited to the reunion bash are players from Mariwasa, including Hubert Filipinas, Jesse Sullano, Luke Dacula Dator, Epoy Alcantara, Mark Arriola, Edmund Tierra and Ulysses Rodriguez.

Expected from Concepion are Alfonso Mora, Lucio Lim, Ramon Lucindo, Roel Deles, Jesus Dungo and Francisco Henares.

From Toyota, Oscar Rocha, Jake Rojas and Orly Bauzon have also been invited along with former U-Tex players Danny Basilan, Egay Gomez, Romeo Frank, Roy Deles, George Lizares and Orlando delos Santos.

The players and their teammates are requested to call the PBA office and get in touch with Coy Perez at 470-2768 to 70 for their availability and schedule.