WHAT better way to celebrate a golden anniversary? Pit two storied squads from the pro league’s glorious past.
The PBA is mulling having a game exactly that on April 9—its 50th anniversary—featuring San Miguel Beer and Meralco at the equally historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
That is one worthy option Asia’s pioneering pro league is exploring, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said.
“Baka maglaro tayo sa April 9 sa Rizal (Memorial Coliseum),” Marcial said last Wednesday night. “Kinakausap pa namin ang Rizal, tinitignan pa rin natin, nasa planning stage tayo.
“San Miguel at Meralco, suot nila ang retro jersey nila. Tingnan natin kung may first game,” he added.
The Beermen and the Bolts battled each other in the old Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association before SMB moved to the PBA when it opened its maiden season in 1975.
Meralco joined the league after acquiring the Sta. Lucia franchise in 2010.
Marcial said his office is still in discussion with TV5 and Cignal TV if the playing schedule would be a doubleheader or just a single game.
The amiable pro league chief said he already held initial talks with Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann on the possible use of the 91-year-old venue.
SMB is the only remaining original team in the league.
Last season, the Beermen and Bolts tangled in the Philippine Cup Big Dance, which Meralco ruled in six games for its first PBA title.
The countdown for the PBA’s golden anniversary kicked off with the logo unveiling last month, where the letters PBA50 were all colored in gold, while the silhouette of a dribbling cager in the middle was colored in black.
The logo signifies the long journey taken by the league since it opened shop in 1975.
