PBA Lines Up Two Big Events To Highlight 50th Anniversary
PBA Lines Up Two Big Events To Highlight 50th Anniversary
Blog Article
AS celebrations go, the PBA announced that its 50th anniversary will be both enjoyable and memorable for fans, players and all entities associated with the league since its founding half a century ago.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said topping the list of activities is the announcement of 10 players to join the PBA's Greatest that will round the number to 50 to mark the league's years of existence. Currently there are 40 players on the Greatest list.
Marcial said the names will be announced on April 9 or the weekend nearest that date.
Marcial said the opening of Season 50 on October 5 will be a momentous event with a planned homecoming of former players, officials, executives, and personalities that will be held at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
PHOTO: Mark Cristino
PHOTO: Mark Cristino
To mark the occasion, a newly-designed championship trophy will be unveiled on the 50th season opener.
As part of the long celebration, the league unveiled its golden anniversary logo on Monday at Launchpad Building in Mandaluyong City.
Most of the activities planned for the celebration are geared towards engaging the participation of as many people as possible because without them the PBA will not be be what it is today, Marcial said.
It is for this reason that Marcial said the league is planning to move its April 9 celebration, which falls on a Wednesday, to Friday or Saturday. That way, he explained, "Mas maraming fans ang makakapunta sa celebration natin."
Meanwhile, as previously announced, the PBA has already created a selection committee to pick the 10 players that will be added to the Greatest list.
In the coming days and weeks, the PBA will also conduct mall and school tours all over the country featuring the 12 PBA teams and their respective players, hold an adopt-a-court program, and revive the Homecourt, an activity where the league will conduct surprise visits to different courts in various barangays in Metro Manila.
PHOTO: Mark Cristino
The PBA All-Star Game will also be part of the golden anniversary to be held from May 2 to 4 in Davao Del Norte.
Broadcast partner TV5 and Cignal are also shaping their programming to accomodate and broadcast live, if possible, all of the PBA's activities.
Speaking on behalf of the organization, PBA chairman Ricky Vargas said: "We are going to reach out to the community. We are going to reach out to the basketball fans, and we will redefine our relationship with basketball fans, and we will redefine our teams' relationship with the public."
“Marami kaming gagawin hindi para sa PBA, para rin sa mga tao na nagmamahal sa PBA,” said league vice-chairman Alfrancis Chua.