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| The rematch of the epic PBA Philippine Cup Finals between Meralco and San Miguel will take place right on the PBA's 50th anniversary. Dennis Acosta (file photo) |
MANILA--The rematch of last year's PBA Philippine Cup Finals could be a highlight of the league's 50th anniversary festivities on April 9.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said on Wednesday night that the PBA could schedule an early clash of the titans between San Miguel and Meralco right on its "birthday".
To add some nostalgia, the game will be played at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, and Marcial added that both the Beermen and the Bolts will wear a retro jersey of their choice.
"Maglalaro tayo sa Rizal. Nasa planning stage tayo, pero ang maglalaro San Miguel at Meralco. Isusuot nila yung retro jersey nila. Sa ngayon yun ang plano ng PBA sa April 9," he said in a short press conference during halftime of Game 4 of the Commissioner's Cup semifinals between NorthPort and Ginebra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
While their PBA rivalry is just starting to brew following an epic seven-game championship series in the all-Filipino conference last year that was decided by Chris Newsome's game-winning shot, both SMB and Meralco have some pro basketball history between them already.
Both teams were among the top contenders in the MICAA, the PBA's predecessor, during the late 60s and the early 70s.
However, with the Philippine government seizing the entire Meralco company from the Lopez Family just after Martial Law was declared in 1972, the said clan, who also owns television giant ABS-CBN, was also forced to let go of its MICAA franchise with Toyota eventually absorbing it.
SMB and Toyota were eventually among those who co-founded the PBA on April 9, 1975, and the Beermen are the only team left still active among the league's charter members.
Meralco, now owned by Manny Pangilinan, eventually made it to the PBA in 2010 after buying the franchise left behind by Sta. Lucia.
The Meralco franchise can actually trace its roots to Great Taste, another pioneering PBA team that made its mark during the 80s following Toyota and Crispa's disbanding.
The Rizal Memorial Coliseum, like the Smart Araneta Coliseum, became a home for MICAA as well as the PBA's early days before making a return there last year.
On the other hand, discussions are underway between the PBA and broadcasting partner TV5 regarding the production of the league's 50th anniversary event.
Among those being tackled is if the Beermen-Bolts game will be the only one scheduled for April 9, 2025 or if there will be two games on that day.
Another highlight for the "PBA50 Day" is the announcement of the new members of the PBA Greatest Players list.
Ten PBA superstars from the past and possibly even the present will be added to the list to make it 50-man strong.
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