It will be a day to remember as the Philippine Basketball Association walks down memory lane while looking forward to brighter years ahead in elaborate rites heralding the opening of PBA Season 45 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
The 12 PBA member ball clubs and the entire makeup of the league today salute the nine original teams which on 1975 bolted from the amateur ranks and laid the foundation for the pioneering pro league in Asia.
The annual season-end awards ceremony, called the Leo's, ushers in the festivities capped by the keenly awaited lone opening match pitting reigning five-time Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer versus 2018 and 2019 runner-up Magnolia.
The Beermen are without their No. 1 pillar June Mar Fajardo but are still fancied to contend for the crown while the Hotshots are highly motivated and aching to go all the way to the top now.
But the Beermen, the Hotshots and the rest of the PBA teams will first give way to the best and brightest of the past season.
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Though down with a shin injury, Fajardo is up, being the top choice to hoist the MVP trophy during the Leo's. Likely to join him in the Mythical First Five are CJ Perez, Jayson Castro, Christian Standhardinger and either Sean Anthony or Japeth Aguilar. Perez is also cinch to win the Rookie of the Year award.
Then the Season 45 inaugurals roll out in a ceremony with the theme "Tayo ang Bida!"
The current heroes offer a toast to the original heroes - the nine ball clubs forming the PBA 45 years ago in 1975.
Leading the honorees are the members of the inaugural season's PBA Board of Governors led by president Emerson Coseteng of Mariwasa, Walter Euyang (Universal Textile), Domingo Itchon (Elizalde and Co., Inc.), Leonardo "Skip" Guinto (San Miguel Corporation), Jose "Dondo" Lim III (Concepcion Industries, Inc.), Enrico Villaflor (Seven-Up Bottling Company), Porfirio Zablan (CFC Corp.), Pablo Carlos (Delta Motor Corp.) and Valeriano "Danny" Floro (P. Floro and Sons) and founding commissioner Leo Prieto.
Teams to be feted are Toyota, Crispa, U-Tex, Mariwasa, Concepcion Industries, Royal Tru-Orance (San Miguel Corp.) ,Tanduay (Yco), Presto (Consolidated Corp.) and Seven-Up.
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Representing those firms and teams in the rites will be former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, Robina Gokongwei-Pe, lawyer Renato Salud, Gil Cortes, coach Arturo Valenzona, Pasig City Vice Mayor Yoyong Martirez, coach Orly Castelo, coach Jimmy Mariano, Atoy Co and LA Mumar. (SB)
