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| (Image Source: Philippine Basketball Association) |
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is moving heaven and earth to make its 50th year anniversary celebration a truly memorable one. The pioneering professional basketball league in Asia, and second in the world, began rolling the ball for its golden year by unveiling its official logo for Season 50 last February 10, 2025 at the Cignal Launchpad in Mandaluyong City led by League Chairman Ricky Vargas and Commissioner Willie Marcial along with legendary player Allan Caidic.
Commissioner Marcial shared, "Halos dalawang taon nating ise-celebrate itong 50th year ng PBA. Magsisimula tayo sa Season 49 (April 9) hanggang matapos natin yung Season 50 ng liga." The unveiling of the logo marked the start of the countdown towards the league's golden celebration where the letters PBA50 are all colored in gold while the silhouette of a dribbling player in the middle is now colored in black. The logo signifies the long journey taken by the league since its inception in 1975, and eventually earning the status as the first ever play-for-pay league in the region. In a curt but solid statement, Chairman Vargas said, "PBA50. Solid tayo dito. We started 50 years ago, we started planning 2024 in July, and will continue to deliver a PBA." Joining the formal logo launch were members of the league's board of governors including Vice Chairman Alfrancis Chua (Barangay Ginebra), treasurer Atty. Raymond Zorrilla (Phoenix), Atty. Bill Pamintuan (Meralco), Rene Pardo (Magnolia), Ronald Dulatre (NLEX), Atty. Mamerto Mondragon (Rain or Shine), Archen Cayabyab (Converge), Eric Arejola (Northport), Bobby Rosales (Terrafirma), and Siliman Sy (Blackwater). Also present were Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro, Mediaquest Holdings Inc. and Cignal TV Inc. President and CEO Jane J. Basas, TV5 Network Inc. President and CEO Guido R. Zaballero, and Cignal TV Inc. Vice President and Head of Channels and Content Management Sienna G. Olaso.
Headlining the official start of the celebration on the exact date of when the league played its first two games on its inaugural season back in 1975 is the formal announcement of its list of 50 Greatest Players where a selection committee led by former PBA commissioner and Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) Executive Director Sonny Barrios is tasked to name ten additional players joining the forty players who were previously enshrined in the said list. Caidic represented the said committee during the anniversary logo unveiling. The league is also set to stage its All-Star Weekend on May 11-13, 2025 in Davao del Norte. In addition, the league seeks to hold exhibition games pitting its top teams against players from the Japanese professional basketball league B.LEAGUE, including various Filipino and foreign imports, as part of its undaunting commitment to cement its pioneer status and improve its standard of play. Meanwhile, PBA is also looking to work with professional leagues in Mongolia and Korea not only to attract new audiences, but also to bring the league back to its glory days.
The 50th season of the PBA is scheduled to start on October 5, 2025 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with a series of activities on deck for the said opening. A rare homecoming featuring former players, officials, executives, and personalities involved in the league through the years are in store for basketball fans, together with the unveiling of a new championship trophy. Also announced was the mall and school tours featuring all 12 teams and their respective players, an adopt-a-court program, and the return of the Homecourt where the league makes a surprise visit to different courts around various barangays in the National Capital Region. At the same time, both TV5 and Cignal made its recommitment of support to the league through its numerous multiplatform broadcast coverages on RPTV, PBA Rush, Cignal Play and Pilipinas Live to ensure a memorable and historical celebration of the PBA's 50th anniversary.
