GAME HIGHLIGHTS
A Historic Night of Basketball and Tradition
As the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) marks a monumental milestone—its 50th anniversary—the league takes a meaningful step back in time, returning to the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the venue where it all began. On this symbolic night, fans will witness a clash rich in nostalgia and significance, featuring the San Miguel Beermen and Meralco Bolts in the main game of a special double-header.
Slated for Wednesday evening, this golden celebration doesn’t just honor five decades of PBA excellence—it also revives one of the league’s oldest rivalries, one that stretches back even before the PBA’s formation.
San Miguel vs. Meralco: A Rivalry Rekindled
Retro Jerseys, Timeless Legacy
In a nod to their shared history, both San Miguel and Meralco will wear retro jerseys, bringing back memories of their early incarnations—Royal Tru Orange and the Meralco Reddy Kilowatts. This tribute adds an extra layer of sentimentality to the already charged matchup.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game is expected to be a fiery rematch. The Bolts are coming into the game with a 2-0 start in the Philippine Cup, while the Beermen are looking to follow up their 98-89 victory over NLEX with another strong performance.
A Grudge Match in the Making
The encounter carries added weight, considering the Bolts’ stunning upset over the Beermen in the All-Filipino Finals last year—an emotional victory that secured Meralco’s first-ever championship in league history. Now, with both teams eyeing supremacy in the Philippine Cup once again, tensions are bound to be high.
Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo expressed both excitement and respect ahead of the match:
“We’re excited, we’re honored that we’re playing San Miguel as part of our 50th year… There’s a high respect between our ball clubs.”
Trillo also acknowledged the Beermen’s rich experience:
“They may be the oldest team, but they’re also the most experienced team.”
His counterpart, Coach Leo Austria, echoed the significance of the rematch:
“This is a very prestigious game… it’s an opportunity for us as we’re up against the team that beat us.”
A Fan-Centric Celebration
Affordable Access, Exclusive Merchandise
The PBA is making sure fans are at the heart of the celebration. To mark the golden anniversary, every spectator entering Rizal Memorial will receive a commemorative “PBA at 50” T-shirt—a keepsake of this historic evening.
Tickets are also being sold at special discounted prices, with lower box seats at just P50 and general admission at P30, inviting fans from all walks of life to be part of the festivities.
Opening Match: Magnolia vs. Converge
Before the headline match, fans will also get to witness an exciting opener between the Magnolia Hotshots and the Converge FiberXers at 5:00 p.m. This curtain-raiser is set to deliver intense action and set the tone for the night’s celebratory atmosphere.