Fan-favorite Ginebra draws cheers as Mark Caguioa and the rest of the Kings parade charming actress Marian Rivera on the court. Screen grab from Youtube.
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Basketball Association, Asia’s oldest pay-for-play league, ushered in its 39th season on Sunday, and reached out to fans not limited to those in Metro Manila.
The lavish opening ceremonies held simultaneously in three urban centers in the Philippines — Manila, Davao and Cebu — is a testament of PBA’s reach, said league commissioner Chito Salud.
“This kind of opening ceremony proves how far the PBA has come.” Salud, who is in his third year as the league’s chief, said in a speech.
More than 20 thousand fans packed the Smart Araneta Coliseum as they trooped to witness their favorite teams take on the floor with their respective muses.
Fan-favorite Ginebra, naturally, had the loudest cheers as Mark Caguioa and the rest of the Kings descended from Lower Box section and met charming actress Marian Rivera on the court.
Air21 Express, San Mig Coffee Mixers and Globalport Batang Pier also paraded actresses on Lauren Young, Isabel Oli and Maxene Magalona, respectively, while Petron Blaze Boosters flaunted volleybelle Gretchen Ho and Barako Bull the Czech stunner Tereza Fajskova.
Meralco, Talk N’ Text, Rain or Shine and Alaska, meanwhile, are all opening their bids in the All-Filipino Cup away from Manila, but still joined in the festivities armed with different beauties.
“This is good for the fans, especially those from Visayas and Mindanao,” Barako Bull’s veteran guard Willie Miller told INQUIRER.net in Filipino.
The Bolts and the Texters are slugging it out in Cebu Coliseum, while the Elastopainters and the Aces clash later at the University of Southeastern Philippines gym in Davao.
“Especially after the tragedies that happened to the Filipinos last month, this will go a long way in making them feel better and happy,” he also said.
The PBA, which earlier donated a million pesos for the typhoon relief efforts through TV5’s Alagang Kapatid, also held a moment of silence for the victims of Typhoon “Yolanda.”
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