FESTIVITIES celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Philippine Basketball Association will start on Feb. 26 during the first semifinal game of the 49th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Patches bearing the number 50 will be attached to the jerseys of players from the TNT Tropang Giga and their rivals from Rain or Shine Elasto Painters during their 5:30 p.m. encounter.
The second group of players in the 7:30 p.m. clash between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings and the North Port Batang Pier will also wear the logos on their uniforms.
“Sa ating 50th anniversary, ang pagsisimula ng celebration ay sa semifinals. Iyung mga players ay magsusuot ng mga patches, ganu’n din ang mga referees at mga officials. Ipapakita na natin kung paano tayo magse-celebrate,” said commissioner Willie Marcial.
Marcial talked about the festivities, with members of the PBA Board of Governors, during a presser on Monday at the TV5 Launchpad Bldg. in Sheridan, Mandaluyong.
A new PBA logo was unveiled on Monday, a day after the Gin Kings beat the Bolts, 94-87, at the Ynares Sports Center, to complete the semis cast of top seed NorthPort, second seed TNT and Rain or Shine.
The emblem shows an all-gold “PBA50” lettering, commemorating the league’s 50th year, with the silhouette of a dribbling player in the middle row.
A panel, headed by three-point legend Allan Caidic will lead a selection committee tasked to name 10 additional players, who will complete the list of the PBA’s 50 greatest, to be unveiled on April 9.
A series of activities will then commence, right before the opening of Season 50 of the PBA on Oct. 5.