PBA Opening 1993

Aug 8, 2023 - 18:42 Updated: Jul 6, 2024 - 16:04

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1. PBA Opening 1993

PBA Opening 1993
Date : February 28, 1993
Location : Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City

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
Purefoods Hotdogs(Purefoods Corporation) Renato Buhain
San Miguel Beermen(San Miguel Corporation) Nazario Avendaño
Shell Rimula X(Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation) Edgardo Veron Cruz
Sta. Lucia Realtors(Consolidated Foods Corporation) Vicente Santos

List of Muses

Alaska Milkmen - Sadie Callahan
Coney Island Ice Cream Stars - Bea Lucero
Ginebra San Miguel - Hazel Huelvas
San Miguel Beermen - Donita Rose
7-Up Uncolas - Rosanna Escudero
Shell Rimula X - Liza Berroya and Janine Barredo
Sta. Lucia Realtors - Ruffa Gutierrez and Apols Gutierrez
Swift Mighty Meaty Hotdogs - Gelli de Belen

A touch of showbusiness, a kaleidoscope of laser beams, fever-pitch expectations and the promise of a greater season!
Thus did the 19th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). unfold with all these ingredients and more, at the new P140-million Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. Despite announcements that tickets to
the opening games of the PBA had already been sold out as early as two days before the actual festivities, thousands of fans still trekked to the Astrodome hoping to experience first hand what the new venue had to offer. To their frustration, though, fans remained standing in the heat of the noonday sun as they vainly sought tickets only to be turned away. Some fans vented their ire on players and team muses who also had to squeeze their way into the Astrodome. At least three Coney Island cagers complained that their respective vehicles were vandalized. Alvin Patrimonio's Mercedes Benz ended up with bottle cap scratches on both sides. Glenn Capacio's sportscar had a dented roof. Jerry Codinera's Rover ended up with busted tail lights. San Miguel Beer muse Donita Rose and Hot Leg's dancer Twinkle Dimayuga got mashed while trying to enter the Astrodome,

Of course, all aggrieved parties charged their misfortune to experience. But they rued the fact that instead of controlling the crowd, several Pasay City policemen were seen escorting guests inside the venue. The inaugurals were supposed to begin at 3 pm, but a 45-minute delay ensued because invited guests could not make their way into the Astrodome. When they were ready, lights dimmed and smoke billowed from a fog machine to trigger what appeared to be a fantasy-type number. Sev Sarmenta, who for the second straight year was emcee of the opening rites, made a grand entrance as he was escorted to centercourt by two pretty usherettes. He got a buss on both cheeks from the twin charmers and that touched Luis Lorenzo, Sr. of Seven-Up, PBA Commissioner Rey Marquez, PBA treasurer Nazario Avendaño of San Miguel, Ginebra's Tony Concepcion, PBA Vice-Chairman Wilfred Uytengsu of Alaska, Shell's Edgar Veron Cruz, Purefoods" Domingo Panganiban, Sta. Lucia's Enteng Santos, Swift's Elmer Yanga, Alaska's Roman Yap, Sta. Lucia's Buddy Encarnado, Games and Amusements Board Chairman Francisco Sumulong, former PBA Commissioner Atty. Rudy Salud and Pasay City Mayor Pablo Cuneta with wife Elaine. Megastar Sharon Cuneta sang the national anthem a-capella but faltered in the line that goes: "aming ligaya na pay may..." Eight men bearing bamboo poles waving banners of the eight participating teams did a jig ushering in the muses of the different ballclubs. Deviating from previous practices wherein muses marched in with the players, this year, the PBA decided to let the "inspirations" take their respective places on the hardcourt before calling in each member of the team.
Here are the muses of the eight PBA teams: Ruffa and Apols Gutierrez for Sta. Lucia, Zeny Callahan of Alaska, Bea Lucero of Coney Island, Gelli de Belen of Swift, Donita Rose of San Miguel, Rosanna Escudero of Seven-Up, Liza Beroya and Janine Barredo of Shell and Hazel Huelvas of Ginebra. Plaques of Recognition were given to Crispin Aldiosa and Consolidated Food Corporation, two pioneers of the PBA which had to bid goodbye this season. Aldiosa served as Supervisor of Officials since 1975. Presto, represented by Ignacio Gotao, sold its franchise to Sta. Lucia. After Lorenzo declared the season open, the PBA bared its new logo painted at centercourt right across the players' seats. The logo was chosen from more than 2,000 entries which joined a nationwide contest held last January.