THE date: December 14, 1975.

The venue: Araneta Coliseum.

The Crispa Redmanizers, led by Fortunato “Atoy” Co and WIlliam “Bogs”Adornado, defeated the Toyota Comets, 96-91, in the fifth and deciding game to capture the PBA Philippine Cup before a record crowd of 32,000.

Fast forward to April 9, 2025 at the Rizal Coliseum in Vito Cruz, Manila.

The PBA, Asia’s first play-for-pay league. celebrated its 50th year with an explosive doubleheader pitting Magnolia and Converge and San Miguel Beer against Meralco.

Why am I suddenly talking about the two historic PBA playing days in 1975 and 2025?

That’s because I was privileged to watch the games live 50 years apart.

The first was every young basketball fan’s dream, the second a sportswriter’s dream come true.

As an 11-year-old kid learning to play ball, my uncle Tony Susano introduced me to the PBA for the first time and brought me to watch the championship game between Crispa and Toyota back in December, 1975.

And since we cannot afford a ringside ticket, we were happy enough to find a comfortable seat at the general admission section of the Big Dome, along with our companions Bobby Susano, Boy Cristobal and Arboy Santos. Why, we even brought our own merienda of siopao and softdrinks which they asked me to hide in my school bag.

Fifty years later — April 9, 2025 — I was again blessed enough to watch the games live on the league’s golden anniversary celebration at its old haunt in Rizal Memorial Coliseum, this time sitting at courtside next to well-known player- manager Danny Espiritu and former Manila Bulletin sports editor Tito Talao.

No less than Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann and PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial were personally around to say hello.

It was, to me, a real sweet spot in time for a genuine basketball fan-turned- sportswriter.

As I prepare to leave the press room inside the sprawling Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, I was given a commemorative PBA at 50 t-shirt by PBA media officer Dave Coros. I now intend to give it to my uncle Tony, who saved just enough money to buy a ticket for my first-ever PBA game at the Big Dome in Cubao exactly 50 years ago.

* * *

As part of the PBA’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the league added 10 more names to its list of 50 “Greatest Players”, who will be honored in a colorful ceremony at the Solaire Grand Ballrooom in Quezon City.

Like most of the players earlier included in the elite list when the PBA celebrated its 25th year and later, 40th year, I also personally covered — and knew — most of the 10 newest additions chosen by the 10-man PBA Screening Committee, headed by former Commissioner Sonny Barrios.

The 10 newest players on the list are Nelson Asaytono, Danny Seigle, Jeffrey Cariaso, Bong Hawkins, Manny Victorino, Elpidio “Yoyoy” Villamin, Abe King, and the late Arnie Tuadles.

Also in the list are former MVP awardees and active players June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson.

The 10 additions will join a distinguished list that includes Johnny Abarrientos, William Adornado, Renato Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Ricardo Brown, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Philip Cezar, Fortunato Co, Jerry Codinera, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernard Fabiosa, Ramon Fernandez, Danny Florencio, Alberto Guidaben, Freddie Hubalde, Robert Jaworski Sr., Jojo Lastimosa, Lim Eng Beng, Samboy Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Manny Paner, Alvin Patrimonio, and Venancio Paras, who were first named in 2000; and Jimmy Alapag, Marlou Aquino, Mark Caguioa, Jayson Castro, Jayjay Helterbrand, Danny Ildefonso, Chito Loyzaga, Eric Menk, Willie Miller, Marc Pingris, Kerby Raymundo, Arwind Santos, Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams, and James Yap, who were added in 2015.

Except for those who have already passed away, most of these 50 greatest PBA players will stand side by side as the league celebrates its golden year at Solaire North.

They surely deserve all the accolades.

But one name missing in the list is the PBA’s one and only “Mr. Excitement”, Paul Alvarez.

A sad, sad story to tell on the league’s 50th year. But that’s another story I hope to write soon.

For comments and suggestions, e-mail to [email protected].

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya