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| Then young PBA coaches Yeng Guiao and Derrick Pumaren figured out in the last time the PhilSports Arena hosted a pro league finals featuring two teams seeking their first title. PBA Images/FIBA (file photos) |
MANILA—History will be made Sunday night as Team Falcons Philippines and Aurora Gaming Philippines battle for the MPL Philippines title at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The championship showdown assures that one club will win it
However, that was not the only time the venue hosted a championship showdown between teams that had yet to win a pro title.
The last time the place formerly known as, but still publicly called, "The ULTRA" hosted a "ringless" final happened in 1992 when Swift battled 7-Up for the PBA Third Conference title.
Just like Falcons and Aurora, both Swift and 7-Up just came to the league recently when they clashed for their first title.
Swift and 7-Up also featured two young mentors trying to make their mark early in their PBA coaching careers.
In the end, though, coach Yeng Guiao, with Tony Harris by his side, got the last laugh over coach Derrick Pumaren as Swift swept 7-Up in the best-of-seven series, which started and ended at the PhilSports Arena.
Pumaren eventually got his championship three years later, also for the same Swift franchise that took on the name Sunkist.
Guiao remains an active figure in the PBA coaching scene, now leading the way for Rain or Shine.
On the other hand, Pumaren made the jump to the WMPBL, leading Rizal to the recent league championship and a fifth-place finish in the FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia.
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