PBA’s golden treat

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for PBA fans trooping to the Rizal Memorial Coliseum for the league’s Golden Anniversary doubleheader today. The PBA’s first-ever game was played on April 9, 1975 and 50 years later to the day, fans will get a special treat to celebrate half a century of Pinoy-style pro basketball.

Every fan who enters Rizal will receive a commemorative PBA at 50 T-shirt. Imagine thousands of fans wearing the same shirt in the venue like how it’s done in the NBA with the home team’s giveaways. And fans who were born in 1975 are ushered in for free. A confirmation of their birth year through a legit ID will ensure free passage. That’s not all. Lower box seats will sell for only P50. General admission tickets will go for P30.

In 1975, the PBA had nine teams – CFC, Crispa, Concepcion Carrier, Mariwasa Noritake, Royal Tru-Orange, 7-Up, Tanduay, Toyota and U-Tex. The first-ever game pitted Concepcion, coached by Tito Eduque, against Mariwasa Noritake, coached by Boy Marquez. Among the Concepcion players were Jimmy Noblezada, Jimmy Mariano, Joy Dionisio, Ramon Lucindo and Lim Eng Beng. The Mariwasa Noritake players included Cisco Oliver, Jun Papa, Jesse Sullano, Eusebio Adolfo, Hubert Filipinas and Luke Dacula.

Mariwasa won the inaugural contest, 101-98 with Oliver hitting 48 and Papa, 17. Oliver, picked by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1970 NBA draft, was one of three imports allowed to suit up in the PBA’s debut conference with U-Tex’ Charles Walker and Toyota’s Snake Jones as they were carryovers from their MICAA lineups. In the second game, Toyota trimmed U-Tex, 105-101. Toyota’s coach was Dante Silverio while FIBA Hall of Famer Caloy Loyzaga called the shots for U-Tex. Toyota’s players included Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez and Francis Arnaiz. Among U-Tex’ players were Danny Florencio, Egay Gomez, Turo Valenzona and Rudy Kutch.

In tonight’s second game, San Miguel Beer and Meralco will wear retro jerseys. San Miguel Beer was known as Royal Tru-Orange from 1975 to 1980. The Beermen jersey of 1981 will be worn by June Mar Fajardo and company. Meralco’s jersey from 1971 to 2010, dating back to its MICAA days, will be worn by Chris Newsome and the Bolts. The battle will leave either Meralco or San Miguel with a first loss in the Philippine Cup. The Beermen are coming off a 98-89 win over NLEX with CJ Perez delivering 28 points while Meralco is fresh from back-to-back decisions over Converge by two and Terrafirma by 38. Magnolia and Converge will face off in the 5 p.m. curtain raiser.