By REYNALD MAGALLON
At the center of the bustling streets of the metro, there lies a proud and timeless building that not only bore witness to unending tales of basketball greatness of the country’s legends but also continuously held the spirit of Filipino passion for the sport.
The Rizal Memorial Coliseum – a historic venue that remains standing proud even in the middle of the towering buildings and condominiums – a picture of how the past can be so beautiful in the middle of the present day’s progress.
And as the PBA returns to RMC after more than 40 years, the venerable arena continues to live its purpose – transcend the past into the present and further in the future as the league’s current players rave at the history of Philippine basketball engraved on the very fabric of the age-old venue.
“It’s an honor to be playing in this arena. It’s a great opportunity not just for me but also for everyone, kasi all the greats, all the legends in the PBA dito sila nagsimula ng career nila,” said Terrafirma star Juami Tiongson who made sure have his own memorable game at the RMC after drilling a game-winning triple that completed his team’s 92-91 comeback over Blackwater.
Tiongson’s winning shot, however, still pale in comparison to the countless of glory the venue had witnessed. Among those was when the Philippine national team, then bannered by the legend Caloy Loyzaga along with fellow greats, retained the Asian Games gold medal in the 1954 edition.
And then there’s the numerous championship stories in the old Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) days that would eventually give birth to the current PBA that everyone knows today.
A part of it were the great stories of some of the legends in the likes of Ramon Fernandez and Robert Jaworski.
And way before the UAAP and NCAA filled every corner of the Mall of Asia Arena and the Araneta Coliseum, there was the Rizal Memorial which helped plant all the seeds for the foundations of the two proud collegiate leagues of today.
“Dati maliit pa lang ako naglalaro palang ako sa Letran High School yun yung mga usap usapan dati na uy memorable yang Rizal Memorial na iyan , diyan nagchampion yung Letran,” said Blackwater guard Rey Nambatac.
“Huli akong naglaro diyan UAAP, mainit pa noon dyan, hindi pa aircon,” added his teammate James Yap who had his own share of nostalgia as he returned to the venue that once housed his games with the UE Red Warriors.
Playing in the RMC gave current players a slice of the historic past, the moments that paved the way to the basketball that they are enjoying today. And they were simply glad to at least be part of the venues’ rich history that stretches through generations.
“Para kang nagflashback dun sa dati sa 80’s basketball. Sabi ko ito yung feeling na nandito yung PBA greats, Hall of Famers naglaro dito. Hopefully kami mga new generation at least naka experience kami na nakapag laro kami sa Rizal Memorial,” said Nambatac.
