Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759628844067viber_image_2025-10-05_01-05-04-929.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — It was a night filled with nostalgia for PBA legends and former players in the league’s homecoming ahead of its golden season.Dozens of old and new faces in the PBA, as well as family and friends, filled the Meralco Theater on Saturday, a day before the PBA Season 50 opening. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/10/3/pba-willy-wilson-easing-into-head-coach-role-ahead-of-season-50-1505">PBA: Willy Wilson easing into head coach role ahead of Season 50</a></div>Six-time PBA Champion and four-time PBA Most Valuable Player Alvin Patrimonio could not hold back his tears as he looked back at his time in the league.“Very emotional, thank you sa lahat. Fifty years of, really, basketball and life. Talagang maganda yung moment na ito. PBA kasi doon tayo nag-start at nakilala. I’m really honored and best to be part of the PBA,” he told reporters.“Nag-enjoy naman ako [during my time].. Binigay [ko] naman yung lahat, yung heart and everything for God and for the fans at siyempre sa Purefoods team,” Patrimonio added.He said seeing his former teammates made him miss being on the court together.Nine-time PBA champion Hector Calma is happy to reunite with his former teammates in San Miguel.“Nice to see my old teammates and the new players. And yung incoming, mga future players natin,” he said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759628948432viber_image_2025-10-05_01-05-38-158.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Hector Calma. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News</div>Jerry “Defense Minister” Codiñera, another PBA legend, was also present.“Masayang masaya. Kasi alam mo magandang reunion ito. Lahat ng players nandito, yung mga dating kalaban, yung mga kasama rin. Nakaka-miss din,” he said.Marylou “The Skyscraper” Aquino is glad the league that gave him so many opportunities reached its golden year. “Masayang masaya ako kasi part ng buhay ko itong PBA eh. Masayang masaya na umabot ng 50th year ang PBA,” he said.Aquino shared a light moment with his former Sta. Lucia teammate Kelly Williams, who was also at the event.“Kausap ko lang si Kelly Williams. Halos nagkasabay kami, until now naglalaro parin siya. So masaya makita yung mga dating kasamahan din, mga dating kalaro din,” he said.Kerby Raymundo quipped that he wants to play in the league again.“Si Kelly Williams nalang kilala ko. Joke lang. Si Jayson [Castro] rin pala. Siyempre new generation na ito. Excited ako mapanood sila this coming season,” he said.Members of the 50 Greatest Players like Atoy Co, Benjie Paras, Jojo Lastimosa, Ronnie Magsanoc, Bong Hawkins, and Danny Ildefonso were also at the event.<div> </div><div>WHAT THEY MISS THE MOST</div> The PBA legends may have been rivals back in their day, but they were all in agreement when they said they miss playing basketball and the fans.“Playing. Kung pwede lang talaga eh no? Siyempre the fans talaga, big part of the PBA. Siyempre [winning] championships,” Patrimonio shared.“Playing during my time.  I really miss that yung mga games namin,” Calma said.“Siyempre yung competition. Nakaka-miss yun eh. Kasi grabeng intense. Second yung crowd, laging punong-puno especially kapag Clasico games. Laging intense yung laban, hindi mo alam kung sino mag-chachampion,” Codiñera said.As for Raymundo, he said he misses his coaches and teammates.Aquino recounted the old style of play in the league, especially during his time.“Yung dating laro na physical eh, yun yung masarap sa PBA eh,” he shared.The PBA legends lauded the league for hosting a homecoming, where they can interact with fellow former players and future stars.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759629023078viber_image_2025-10-05_01-05-32-476.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News </div><div>EVOLUTION OF THE PBA</div> The former PBA players admit the style of play in the league has changed compared to their time.“Iba na kasi yung game ngayon eh. More on movements and ano shooting. Konti nalang yung mga post moves,” Patrimonio said.“Right now they’re faster, bigger players. Before hindi naman ganun kalaki players natin. It’s good for the league,” Calma explained.“Siguro yung height? Malalaki na mga bata ngayon. Dati ako yung center eh. Ngayon yung height ko pang small forward nalang,” Raymundo said.Aquino also talked about the height of the players in the league.“Halos konti na lang yung big man eh. Hindi kagaya ng batch ko, marami yung big man na sabay-sabay. Marami ring big man na halos ganun din [parang ako] yung laro,” he said.For his part, Calma is not surprised that the PBA has reached the 50-year milestone. But he wants to see the league further expand in the future.“Well, I think more teams. We should have more teams to enter the PBA,” he said.When asked which player he thinks is closest to his game, Calma identified LA Tenorio.  Codiñera is hopeful the fans continue supporting Asia’s first pay-for-play league.“Siyempre yung ano parang matilda ng dati. Yung laging puno yung Araneta ganun. Parang palaging kahit sino mag-champion laging puno,” he said.During the event, members of the PBA Hall of Fame were recognized, and the 50 Greatest Players were awarded with plaques.OPM icons Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Bituin Escalante and Mitoy, and the Draybers captivated the crowd with their performances.PBA’s 50th season officially opens on Sunday.

It was a night filled with nostalgia for several PBA legends and former players in the league’s homecoming ahead of its golden season.

It was a night filled with nostalgia for several PBA legends and former players in the league’s homecoming ahead of its golden season.

Legends, new generation of stars unite in PBA 50 Homecoming

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Legends, new generation of stars unite in PBA 50 Homecoming

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 05, 2025 10:27 AM PHT

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