PBA to host games at Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Saturday

Facade of the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.  This historic venue will be the host of PBA games this Saturday. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The PBA will return to one of its old stomping grounds on Saturday with a pair of games in the Philippine Cup at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The league made the announcement Tuesday with Blackwater facing Terrafirma at 3 p.m. before Magnolia makes its All-Filipino debut against slumping Converge at 6:15 p.m.

No official records are available but the set of games is set to be the first at the age-old venue since 1984.

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Rizal Memorial served as an alternate venue to the Araneta Coliseum during the early days of the league, and was the site of the first PBA meeting between rivals Crispa and Toyota on May 10, 1975.

In the decades since staging games at Rizal Memorial, the league held regular games at Philsports Arena, Cuneta Astrodome, Mall of Asia Arena and Ynares Center in Pasig City.

A return to Rizal Memorial had been floated a decade ago, especially after the league held games at nearby Ninoy Aquino Stadium from 2010 to 2011.

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Ninoy Aquino, Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City and Caloocan Sports Complex have also been tapped to host PBA games for the duration of this season’s Philippine Cup eliminations.

The government-owned venue was built in 1934 as part of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex that includes the football and track stadium and a baseball stadium.

Throughout its history, Rizal Memorial was the site of memorable basketball games, namely the defunct MICAA, NCAA, UAAP, ABC Championship and the second venue of the 1978 Fiba World Championship.

Rizal Memorial was refurbished in 2019 ahead of the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games, and has since hosted volleyball tournaments after the biennial meet.