PBA Season 50 logo unveiled

MANILA, Philippines — When the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals fire off on February 26, the competing teams will start sporting a different league logo than the one that fans are used to.

Gold replaced the normal red and blue letters and the silhouette of a dribbling player in “B” is now in black color and with the number “50” — also in gold — added below.

This all-gold logo is created in celebration of the PBA’s golden anniversary this year, signifying “the long journey taken by the league since its inception in 1975.”

It was officially launched yesterday in a formal ceremony attended by league officials headed by PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT, Vice Chairman Alfrancis Chua of Ginebra, Commissioner Willie Marcial and top executives of TV5/Cignal led by Cignal TV and MediaQuest president and CEO Jane Basas and TV5 president and CEO Guido Zaballero.

The logo’s unveiling marked the start of a series of activities for the 50th anniversary celebration.

In the weekend of the league’s actual anniversary on April 9, the PBA will name the 10 new members of its hallowed “50 Greatest” roster.

On May 2-4, the PBA will hold a special All Star Weekend in Panabo, Davao del Norte featuring two teams of Mindanao-borne players battling it out as an appetizer to the revived RSJ (Rookies-Sophomores-Junior) versus Veterans main fare.

The big event is slated for October 5 with 400 to 500 PBA stars from 1975 onwards expected to gather and help formally kick off the 50th Season.

On top of these major undertakings, the PBA has lined up fans-based activities like mall and school tours, visits to barangay basketball courts and adopt-a –court program as well as “50 Most Memorable PBA Moments” celebrations in venues.

“While we're all very excited about all these events that are going to happen, one thing is very clear - we are going to reach out to the community, we are going to reach out to the basketball fans,” said Vargas.

“Ito 'yung vision namin: We'd like the PBA to be the number one basketball entertainment, note, entertainment league in Asia. Para sa Asia,” added Vargas, citing they made innovations and rule changes like the 4-point shot and the group format in the previous conference’s eliminations toward this end.

Meanwhile, Basas and Zaballero each reiterated their respective company’s commitment of support to the PBA through their numerous multiplatform coverages to ensure a memorable celebration of the league’s 50th anniversary.