AT LEAST 50 players were considered for the Alas Pilipinas pool from where the national team will be selected. But at the last moment, only 33 were named to undergo tryouts.
Why this was trimmed was reportedlty a matter of control. Apparently, 33 is a much more manageable number than 50.
But other reasons floated around.
READ: Top players left out of Alas Pilipinas' 33-woman 'wishlist'
First, some of those not included in the list were expected to have other commitments that would make them unavailable when training camp begins.
Others had to be removed so as not to overstack certain playing positions thus avoiding a mad scramble for a limited number of slots.
It is not yet known if all 33 players have accepted the invites because according to the gravevine, some of those in the wishlist are reportedly unsure if they want to become a national player.
PBA anniversary games venues switch
The reason why the PBA will not be holding games for its 50th anniversary at the venue where it was first held is not because the PBA preferred to use a historic venue. but because Araneta Coliseum, where the PBA was inaugurated, is not available on the planned playdate.
Instead, the anniverdary games, a twinbill, will be held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on April 9.
It was at the Big Dome where Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league was born on April 9, 1975 featuring the doubleheader between Mariwasa Noritake and Concepcion Carrier and the Toyota-Utex tussle in the main game played before a jampacked crowd.
Under the current schedule, it will be Magnolia versus Converge and Meralco versus San Miguel for the anniversary games. Of the four, San Miguel remains as the only original team when the PBA opened in 1975.
Meralco, on the other hand, was a member of the MICAA (Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association) from where the PBA had its pre-professional roots. It is for this reason that Meralco and San Miguel will play on the league's anniversary day in a rematch of last year's All-Filipino conference finals.
In a nod to that period, the PBA has asked both Meralco and San Miguel to wear a replica of the jerseys they wore during that time.
Some people are therefore wondering why Rizal Memorial instead of the Araneta Coliseum.
“Nagka-lituhan sa schedule,” was how a person privy to the matter explained the situation.
As it is, a religious group had booked the Big Dome ahead of the PBA for the use of the venue on April 9.
But some pundits have other thoughts, one being the recent Araneta management's decision to change the policy regarding LED advertisements at courtside. This new rule reportedly did not sit well with PBA officials as the league earns a substantial amount from the ads.
Was this the real reason?
Just asking.
Will fans see Purefoods and Alaska threads in the anniversary games?
THE April 9 game between San Miguel and Meralco will feature both teams wearing retro jerseys as part of the celebration for the PBA's 50th anniversary.
The second game of the Wednesday doubleheader at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum will see two teams that have etched its mark in Philippine basketball with the Beermen being a pioneer team and the Bolts part of the old MICAA.
But will we see the same in the first game between Magnolia and Converge?
As of now, there is no such plan for the two squads to wear retro jerseys.
Magnolia has a rich history in the PBA as well as they were once named Purefoods where they became one of the most popular teams outside of Barangay Ginebra when the squad had Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codinera.
Magnolia remains linked to the Purefoods squad which is why the Hotshots are a 14-time champion.
While Converge entered the league in 2022, the telecommunications company bought the Alaska franchise that also made a mark in PBA history when it won a Grand Slam in 1996.
While the brand and even the industries the two teams are in may already be different from their predecessors, it won't be such a bad idea at all if they wore retro jerseys for the April 9
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
