(PBA image)
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is planning to add nostalgia to its coming 50th-anniversary celebration by holding a game pitting San Miguel against Meralco, two franchises with a long history of basketball.
Commissioner Willie Marcial disclosed the idea on Wednesday, hinting at what is likely in store when Asia’s first-ever play-for-pay league commemorates its golden year on April 9.
Both San Miguel and Meralco played against each other in the old Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) before the Beermen took their acts to the PBA when it ushered its inaugural season in 1975. The Bolts entered the league later, in 2010.
Marcial said the 49-year-old league wants to hold the game at the iconic Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
“Maglalaro tayo sa Rizal (Coliseum). Nasa planning stage tayo, pero ang maglalaro San Miguel at Meralco. Isusuot nila yung retro jersey nila. Sa ngayon yun ang plano ng PBA sa April 9,” he said at halftime of Game 4 of the semifinals series between Barangay Ginebra and Northport.
(PBA image)
The commissioner added that his office is still discussing with TV5 and Cignal TV whether the playing schedule would be a doubleheader or just a single game.
Marcial already held an initial meeting with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), under Chairman Richard Bachmann, about using the 91-year-old coliseum.
San Miguel is the only remaining pioneer team in the league.
Last year, the Beermen and Bolts fought in the Philippine Cup finals, which Meralco won in six games to win its first-ever PBA championship.