THE PBA is returning to Cavite for the first time in 17 years with the staging of Game Three of the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup semifinals.
The league's games at the newly-built Dasmariñas Arena in Barangay Burol Main will be its first in the province since December 8, 2007 when a Philippine Cup out-of-town game was held at the San Sebastian College-Cavite gym in Cavite City.
Wednesday’s game in Dasmariñas City could also be a good omen for Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
Look back at last PBA game held in Cavite
In that game held in Cavite City, Red Bull, then coached by Guiao, defeated Magnolia, 94-88, in the 2007-08 Philippine Cup elimination round, according to the research made by PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon.
It should be noted that the Magnolia team that Guiao’s Red Bull faced 17 years ago isn’t the current Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots that has the Purefoods franchise as its remnant, but the Magnolia Beverage Masters, the name that the San Miguel Beermen used briefly during that 2007-08 season.
In that game, Mick Pennisi topscored for Red Bull with 16 points, with Junthy Valenzuela also tallying 14 points in the win.
Red Bull spoiled the games of Danny Seigle and Danny Ildefonso, who had 20 and 17 points respectively in a losing effort.
Guiao’s current squad is now facing a must-win on Wednesday as Rain or Shine is trailing 0-2 over San Miguel in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series. Game Three is scheduled at 4:30 p.m.
The Elasto Painters are down by two games after they lost to the Beermen, 106-89, last Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The only player still active from Cavite game 17 years ago
The second game will be Meralco playing against Barangay Ginebra with both teams aiming for the lead in their own best-of-seven semifinal series.
The Bolts evened the series last Sunday when they defeated the Gin Kings, 103-91.
Coincidentally, there is also one player from that game 17 years ago in Cavite that is playing in the Meralco-Ginebra series.
His name is LA Tenorio, who was still playing for the Beverage Masters then and finished with two points, three rebounds, and two assists while playing for 27 minutes as the starter of the game.
Olsen Racela, who also played in that game in Cavite City, is now the assistant coach of Barangay Ginebra.
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