In 1987, the PBA partnered with the International Basketball Association (IBA) (a newly formed league in the United States for players 6-foot-4 and below) and staged a mini tournament.
Among the teams that took part in the PBA/IBA World Challenge Cup included the Great Taste Instant Milk, the San Miguel Beermen, Hills Bros Coffee Kings, and the IBA All-Stars.
Each of the PBA teams back then were allowed two imports each. Great Taste paraded Dexter Shouse and Dwight Moody, San Miguel had Bobby Parks and Dwayne Polee while Hills Bros were reinforced by Alex Adams and McKinley Singleton.
The IBA All-Stars went on to win the crown after defeating Great Taste 130-112 on September 27. San Miguel had the distinction of being the lone team to defeat the American-based squad on September 24 (118-114).
The tournament also paved the way for the entry of future PBA imports such as Ray Hall, Russel Brown, Sam Smith and the eventual PBA/IBA Slam Dunk champion Sean Chambers who defeated then Ginebra import, Billy Ray Bates.
References:
Manila Bulletin Publishing Library
**
For readers who want to rekindle the past, simply tweet with #mbsportsthrowback or leave a comment here on who you want to see once again and we will try to look them up for you. or drop us a post over at our MB Sports Facebook page