PBA to play games at historic RMC

THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is playing its Season 48 Philippine Cup double header at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, March 16, marking the first time the pro league returns to the famed sports venues for the first time in many decades.

Blackwater and Terrafirma get the first stab in playing at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum (RMC) beginning at 3 p.m., followed by the match between Converge and Commissioner’s Cup runner-up Magnolia at 6:15 p.m.

The Rizal Memorial Coliseum served as the site for numerous basketball exploits of the Philippine men’s basketball team. In fact, Filipino basketball legends Caloy Loyzaga, Lauro Mumar, Antonio Genato, among others, retained the men’s basketball gold medal for the Asian Games during the 1954 edition at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association, a semi-pro basketball league in the country back then, the UAAP and NCAA, as well as some PBA games, during the pro league’s early years in the 1980s also played in the ageold basketball facility.

The sports venue also hosted several games during the 1978 FIBA World Championship (now FIBA World Cup).

Aside from RMC, the PBA announced earlier that it will be playing its games also at the nearby Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The 90-year-old coliseum, named after Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal, underwent massive renovation in recent years after hosting the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which included the installation of a new air-conditioning system.