PBA turns 50

PBA plays its 50th season.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) hits a landmark when it opens shop this weekend as it ushers in its 50th season.

Founded in 1975 as the first professional league in Asia, the PBA has had it eventful since, steadily leaving its mark not only in the country’s sports psyche but in popular culture as well.

While of late it has faced challenges as an institution, including in viewership and losing players to leagues abroad, it has remained resilient and is still ‘the’ professional basketball league in the land.

This writer is proud to say that I have been part of the PBA’s journey all this time, not only as a fan but also as a journalist covering the games when I was still with local business broadsheet BusinessWorld.

Early 80s was my introduction to basketball and the PBA. My favorite team was Toyota, and Ramon Fernandez was my main man. I savored watching them play, especially against bitter rivals Crispa Redmanizers on black-and-white television then and when my now-deceased eldest brother would tag me along to catch them play at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ramon Fernandez of the Toyota Super Corollas (Photo taken from Sport Lang’s Facebook page)

When Toyota disbanded in 1984, I found myself still rooting for ‘El Presidente’ and whichever team he played for. From Beer Hausen to Manila Beer to Tanduay to Purefoods, I cheered for them.

Fernandez played for San Miguel from 1988 to 1994, and while he retired thereafter, the Beermen fan in me stuck to this day.

In 2003, I found my ‘involvement’ in the league take a whole new dimension as I was given the opportunity to write my own sports column in BusinessWorld. This, as I continue to work as a proofreader and moonlighting sportswriter for the paper.

“Give and Go,” for 17 years, touched on anything sports but most of the topics centered around the goings-on in the PBA.

The deluge of Fil-foreigners, with some turning out to be shams; the transition from OG players like Alvin Patrimonio and Ronnie Magsanoc to the likes of new-generation stars like James Yap and Mark Caguioa; the advent of new teams and league commissioners; the games themselves; and the birth of the Gilas programs were some of the things I spotlighted in the column.

Through “Give and Go”, I saw the PBA beyond the eyes of a cheering fan but a stakeholder of an institution with a lot of moving pieces, worthy to be discussed and expanded on.

The author’s first “Give and Go” column. “Resurrected Gin Kings?”, BusinessWorld, February 2023.

In 2014, working as a reporter, I religiously covered the PBA, be they at Araneta, Mall of Asia Arena and even at the humongous Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

Steadily talking to the players, team and league officials and covering the games to my heart’s content allowed me to have added appreciation of the league I have grown with and long followed.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the way I dispensed my duties in covering and presenting stories about the league. Undeniably, it was a challenging period but something I am proud to say I managed to pull off until I left BusinessWorld in 2021.

The last couple of years, I follow the PBA back as a fan but nonetheless engaged as ever. It is nice to see that it is still standing despite a myriad of challenges.

Admittedly, though, it could do better in certain facets, among which improving parity in the league in maybe enticing back fans who were turned off by perceived lack of competitiveness on a bigger scale nowadays in Asia’s first play-for pay league.

Reaching 50 years is surely a huge accomplishment and something to be celebrated. To the PBA, congratulations, and looking forward to more fruitful and improved years moving forward.

PBA opens 50th season with the Philippine Cup

The 50th season of the PBA tips off on Sunday, Oct. 5, with its centerpiece All-Filipino tournament, the Philippine Cup.

Right off the bat is the ‘Manila Clasico,’ featuring the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Magnolia Timplados Hotshots, at 7:30 p.m. It is the lone game on opening day, which follows the traditional opening ceremony.

The San Miguel Beermen are the defending champions and will be tested by the rest of the field, which now includes Pureblends Corp., playing as the Titan Ultra team. It replaced the Northport Batang Pier, who sold its franchise locked, stocked and barrel in the offseason.

Below is the full elimination schedule of the PBA Philippine Cup:

The PBA Philippine Cup tips off on Oct. 5.

After the eliminations, the playoffs begin.