PBA Opening 1992

PBA Opening 1992
Date : February 09, 1992
Location : Philippine Sports Commision National Academy of Sports Arena (formerly ULTRA), Pasig

List of PBA teams participated : 

Alaska Milkmen(General Milling Corporation) Wilfred Steven Uytengsu
Ginebra San Miguel(La Tondeña Distillers, Inc.) Bernabe Navarro
Pepsi Hotshots(Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.) Luis Lorenzo, Sr.
Swift Mighty Meaty Hotdogs(Republic Flour Mills Corporation) Elmer Yanga
Presto Tivolis(Consolidated Foods Corporation) Lance Gokongwei
Purefoods Hotdogs(Purefoods Corporation) Renato Buhain
San Miguel Beermen(San Miguel Corporation) Nazario Avendaño
Shell Rimula X(Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation) Ric Lara

First Conference Champion : Shell ( 4-3 ) coached by Rino Salazar
First Conference Runner-up : San Miguel

All-Filipino Conference Champion : San Miguel ( 4–3 ) coached by Norman Black
All-Filipino Conference Runner-up : Purefoods

Third Conference Champion : Swift (4–0 ) coached by Yeng Guiao
Third Conference Champion Runner-up : 7-Up

UNDOUBTEDLY PBA fans were starved because of the two month break between the 1991 and 1992 seasons. The weeklong 'Battle of Champions' mini-tournament did not ease the hunger but instead, only served to intensify the fans' desire to see the 18th season of the pro league get underway. Last Sunday, the 1992 edition of the PBA unfolded at the newly-renamed Philippine Sports Commission-National Academy of Sports (PSC-NAS) Arena with a fullhouse crowd of 9,295 witnessing the inaugurals and the subsequent twinbill. Gross sales for the day was P430,010 which was better than the 1989 and 1990 records but slightly lower than last year's. "That's not our fault really. The slight decline was due to a reduction of the seating capacity at the gallery section as ordered by the fire department of Pasig," explained PBA legal counsel Atty. Butch Cleofe. Nevertheless, PBA officials are quite satisfied with the opening day turnout and they expect more crowds to pack the PSCNAS Arena in the coming playdates.

Visibly missed during the inaugurals of the 18th season was sportscaster par excellence Joe Cantada who is still struggling in his battle with the Big C. Although ably filling up Cantada's absence, emcee Sev Sarmenta, in all modesty, said he can never match the verve and wit of Smokin' Joe. And no one, for that matter, can do so at the moment.. Sarmenta urged the crowd to clap their hands for Joe, who for sure, was watching the entire proceedings on television. The fans definitely missed Joe's rendition of 'My Way' and portrayal of the role of 'Kissing Bandit' each opening day of the PBA But he'll be back soon! That's for sure.
Pops Fernandez and Martin Nievera have shifted from The Real Thing' to the 'New Generation' as they are now endorsing Pepsi Cola. Thus no one was surprised when Pops came as muse for the Hotshots during the opening parade. She was escorted by her husband, of course. Aside from Pops, there were three other movie stars who acted as muses of their respective teams. For Swift Mighty Meaties it was presidential daughter Kris Aquino. San Miguel Beer had Regal Baby Ruffa Gutierrez. Ginebra had two muses Rea Ordoñez and former movie star Andrea Bautista, daughter of senatorial candidate Ramon Revilla. Presto muse was Selina Manalad, reigning Miss Maja Philippines. Alaska had Amelia dela Cruz leading the Milkmen. Shell had two muses in Ina Remedios and Liza Arevalo. Purefoods' muse was Bettina Barrientos, sister of Filipino tennis sensation Felix Barrientos. All but two of the muses arrived on time and marched alongside their teams during the parade. However, Gutierrez and Manalad arrived quite late and had to scamper to be with their teams while the invocation was going on.

List of Muses 
Alaska Milkmen Amelia Dela Cruz
Ginebra San Miguel Rhea Ordonez and Andrea Bautista    
Pepsi Hotshots Pops Fernandez with Martin Nievera
Presto Ice Cream Selina Manalad
Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs Bettina Barrientos (sister of tennis star Felix Barrientos)
San Miguel Beermen Ruffa Gutierrez
Shell Rimula X Zoomers Ina Remedios & Lixa Arevalo    
Swift Mighty Meaty Hotdogs Kris Aquino

First Conference Champion : Shell ( 4-3 ) coached by Rino Salazar
First Conference Runner-up : San Miguel

All-Filipino Conference Champion : San Miguel ( 4–3 ) coached by Norman Black
All-Filipino Conference Runner-up : Purefoods

Third Conference Champion : Swift (4–0 ) coached by Yeng Guiao
Third Conference Champion Runner-up : 7-Up