PBA Opening 1978

In a special pre-season event, a Crispa-PBA All-Star series was played, a five-game duel decided by cumulative scores which raked in more funds to the PBA players' trust fund. Crispa won three games but lost by 12 points in the cumulative scoring. On February 26, Crispa beat the PBA-All Stars, 99–90, for a 3–2 victory in a series played in Davao, Iloilo, Cebu and Manila. The All-Stars lineup were Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz, Danny Florencio, Manny Paner, Ramon Fernandez, Rudolf Kutch, Abe King, Estoy Estrada, Jun Papa, Lim Eng Beng, Freddie Webb and Johnny Revilla. Their coach was Dante Silverio.

The PBA All-Filipino '78 inaugurals glowed with charming muses who paraded with all the elan and grace of the beautiful Filipina.Royal Tru-Orange had Miss Magnolia herself, Mary Massab; Filmanbank had fashion model Reggie Prada; Honda Wildcats, Maria Pilar Menendrez; Great Taste Discoverers had movie queen Vilma Santos; Utex Wranglers, Monette Arquiza; Tanduay had Bb. Pilipinas Maja Bambi Arambulo; Toyota had two, the very popular Charo Santos and Dianne Jose; Crispa had fashion mannequin Meg Paris. Most applauded muse was, naturally, the petite Vilma Santos who brought the Big Dome down with her regal bearing, sweet smile and a very becoming gown that fitted her to a T. The dome glittered with the participating players who were gallant in their respective colorful uniforms. Each team, toned hard by color loyalties, receiving warm response from supporters and plain spectators who flooded the bleachers as early as an hour away from the scheduled time. It was a much-anticipated event indeed, with the players' faces showing traces of excitement.

And the team skippers glittered plus: Rodolfo Hines, Utex; Marte Samson, Royal Tru-Orange; Fortu- nato Co, Crispa; Robert Jaworski, Toyota; Jaime Mariano, Filmanbank; Reynaldo Alcantara, Honda Wildcats; Freddie Webb, Tanduay; Manuel Paner, GTD. So that was it. Glow, glitter and glamour characterized the opening. of the 1978 PBA season. And as if these were not enough, the inaugurals was highlighted by the presence of US Maid of Cotton Dorothy Ann Harman.

Another highlight of the affair was the significant participation of the members of the 1954 Philippine National Basketball team that placed third in the third World Basketball Championships at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in the inaugurals as its very special guest. Only six however made it to the affair, and they were Carlos Loyzaga, Lauro Mumar, Ma- riano Tolentino, Napoleon Flores, Benjamin Francisco and Bayani Amador. Missed were Rafael Bar- retto, Florentino Bautista, Jr., An- tonio Genato, Ramon Manulat, Francisco Rabat and Ponciano Sal- dana. The team was mentored by Herminio Silva.