RAIN or Shine's decision to wear its old jerseys when it was still known as the Welcoat Dragons was welcomed by basketball fans, And now, many of them want other teams to follow Rain or Shine's example, some suggesting uniforms of teams already disbanded, apparently nostalgic about the good old days of the PBA.
Rain or Shine's retro caper seemed to have simply come out of the blue. But the result was gratifying. The Elasto Painters beat Converge, 110-90, and some people now believe the old uniform might be a good luck charm and the team might wear it again.
READ: Return of the Dragons: ROS wears retro Welcoat jerseys
When asked when that could be, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said: “Hindi ko alam eh, pero sinwerte eh, baka maulit pa. Mga bossing namin ang nagde-decide."
With excitement palpable upon seeing the Welcoat Dragons jersey which the team first wore when it was playing in the defunct Philippine Basketball League, this writer went around to ask fans which teams they would like to see wear their old jerseys.
Here are some of their suggestions.
SAN MIGUEL
Some fans want San Miguel to also wear retro jerseys. The Beermen previously had worn their 1989 jersey, the year they won the grand slam. This was during the Clark bubble in 2020 when San Miguel celebrated its 130th year anniversary.
Fans also suggested that the Beermen wear the pinstripes jerseys in the 1990s and the uniform with the beer mug design used during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Still, some fans want them to go way, way back, the time when San Miguel was carrying the Royal Tru-Orange banner, which was during the inaugural season of the league in 1975. The beverage, however, is no longer under the San Miguel Corporation umbrella.
MAGNOLIA
To no one’s surprise, Magnolia fans want the team to wear uniforms when it was still Purefoods, which was during the late 1980s, and had been known as the Tender Juicy Hotdogs, Corned Beef Cowboys and Chunkee Giants.
Also suggested was the San Mig Coffee jersey of 2014 when they won a grand slam.
TNT
The Tropang Giga lineage dates back to their Mobiline Phone Pals days, and their uniforms are also something that some fans want to see. Notable players from that time include Andy Seigle and, of course, Asi Taulava.
Taulava would later join forces with Jimmy Alapag in 2003, and fans also want a reincarnation of the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals baby blue and yellow jersey of that time where they won a championship in the Philippine Cup.
MERALCO
The Meralco jersey from the 1971 MICAA title team also got a mention from fans. And although Meralco had already worn a similar jersey in 2012, a fan wants the exact design from 53 years ago that showed only the Meralco logo and the jersey number.
CONVERGE
Alaska is still remembered by fans even after it decided to sell its PBA franchise to Converge. It won’t be a bad idea if the FiberXers pay homage to the old team that won a grand slam in 1996, a fan said.
Aside from the 1996 jerseys, some fans also want a reincarnation of the 1998 red and black jersey.
BARANGAY GINEBRA
Fans of the league’s most popular team also had their suggestions including the Gordon’s Gin jersey from 1997.
Some fans also want to see the ‘Ginebra Na!’ jersey from the 1990s, and the Ginebra jersey during the 1999 season where Bal David made that epic game-winner to beat Mobiline in the All-Filipino Cup playoffs.
It could also be a treat if the Ginebra jerseys worn by Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand early in their career would make a brief comeback.
Some also want to see the other brands that the former La Tondena franchise wore such as Gilbey’s Gin and Anejo Rum.
Any more retro jerseys that you want to see?
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