THE PBA takes a trip down memory lane in visiting the Rizal Memorial Coliseum for the first time in decades, bringing a Saturday double-header top-billed by the Magnolia-Converge face-off.
It's time to reminisce tons of precious moments in the historic playing venue that played host to various big sporting events including the 1973 ABC Championship, the 1978 World Championship, numerous world boxing title fights and several Southeast Asian Games competitions.
RMC was also the house to the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA), the forerunner of what would be the Philippine Basketball Association in 1975.
It was playing ground to the old MICAA teams of San Miguel Beer and Meralco.
It's easy to guess not a single PBA player today has been born when the last PBA game was played in the decades-old coliseum.
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For Magnolia coach Chito Victolero, setting foot at Rizal would trigger a cascade of memories of his playing days as an amateur player and their training with the SEAG-bound national team in 2001.
Trivia aside, it's expected to be a battle as Magnolia and Converge clash at 6:15 p.m., with the Hotshots looking for a winning conference debut and the FiberXers out to snap out of a long stupor.
Victolero and his troops are reassembling with sights set on another run after coming up short in their title bid in the last conference.
Paul Lee and his teammates went unbeaten in the preseason On Tour series, topped the Commissioner's Cup elims and rolled past TNT and Phoenix in the playoffs before running smack to a heavyweight of an opponent in San Miguel Beer.
The Hotshots were able to fight the Beermen to a 2-2 tie in the best-of-seven finale before crumbling down in the next two games to settle for second place.
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The FiberXers, on the other hand, have been in a lonely ride all season long, holding a 0-4 card going to their match versus the Hotshots. (SB)
