PBA pioneer and one of the 25 Greatest Players of all-time Manny Paner was a special guest at ringside during Friday's Philippine Cup doubleheader at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Cebuano cager watched at courtside as he graced the league for the first time in a long while through the invitation of commissioner Willie Marcial.
Paner, 73, was widely cheered by the crowd when his presence was acknowledged while chatting animatedly with long-time players' agent Danny Espiritu.
Standing at 6-foot-3 but played center during his time, Paner said he's based in Antipolo for almost two decades now.
He gamely stayed on and watched the weekend twinbill that saw NLEX routing Blackwater, 98-68, and Magnolia surviving Meralco in overtime, 97-88.
Sponsored content: A product of the University of the Visayas, Paner was among the original players of the San Miguel team, which then carried the product Royal Tru Orange, as among the pioneer franchises in Asia's first ever play-for-pay league when it opened in 1975.
He was the first center to be named part of the league's Mythical Team, went on to become a member of the 5,000-point club, and grabbed 1,000 offensive rebounds in a decade-long career.
In 1978, he signed with Great Taste and became the PBA's highest paid player back then after agreeing to an P8,000 monthly pay.
Aside from Royal Tru Orange and Great Taste, Paner also suited up briefly for CDCP before returning to San Miguel in 1982 where he eventually finished his playing career in 1986.
He was named part of the league's 25 Greatest Players in 2000 and inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2007.
Sponsored content: Prior to turning pro, he was part of the national team that saw action in the 1972 Munich Olympics and the 1974 FIBA World Championships after winning the gold as member of the Philippine quintet in the 1973 FIBA Asia Championship held in Manila.
For years, Paner has been in the business of dog and cat breeding, while also maintaining an antique-souvenir shop in Greenhills. (GR)
