MANILA, Philippines — The PBA celebrated its 50th anniversary on Wednesday, and from the first game alone, everything felt just right.

A historic venue? Check. Two storied teams on the floor? Check. A receptive crowd to match the moment? Check.

San Miguel Beer and Meralco’s retro showdown may have been the spotlight as the main event, but the opening game brought its own dose of nostalgia and pride for the league’s 50th milestone.

READ: PBA at 50: June Mar Fajardo wants more retro in the future

And right at the heart of it all were the Magnolia Hotshots, with a rich history of the own, carrying with them the PBA’s past, present, and future.

On this special day, Magnolia put on a show not just to celebrate the league’s longevity and success, but to proudly raise the banner of their storied franchise.

The captain’s old stomping grounds

Crowd inside the Rizal Memorial Coliseum during the PBA 50th Anniversary game between Magnolia and Converge. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The Rizal Memorial Coliseum played host to the highly anticipated #PBA50 celebration. For some, it’s just another venue. For others, it’s sacred ground with the amount of history engraved on its floors and walls.

For Alvin Patrimonio, Magnolia’s team manager, it felt like a personal homecoming.

“This is where I first played as an amateur in the NCAA,” said Patrimonio post-game, catching his breath after Magnolia’s 83-71 win over Converge.

“It’s really nostalgic. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it. The atmosphere made me feel like I was walking down memory lane.”

Before his PBA glory days,  Patrimonio, famously known as the “The Captain, starred for Mapua in the NCAA, dominating the scene with back-to-back MVPs in 1985 and 1986.

And Rizal Memorial had been his stomping grounds. “This is where I was known so I feel blessed,” he said.

Years later  Patrimonio played some more games in Rizal during his tenure with Purefoods where he won the MVP a whopping four times.

No surprise he was among the first inducted into the league’s 50 Greatest Players.

Even on the sidelines, his presence on this milestone night was only fitting.

The Beast’s Chapter

Magnolia Hotshots’ Calvin Abueva with coach Chito Victolero during the PBA’s 50th anniversary game at Rizal Memorial Coliseum. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER

Calvin Abueva’s PBA career can be described in many words—oftentimes controversial, but undeniably special. Through good or bad, he remains a household name.

In the PBA’s golden anniversary, he player best known as “The Beas”  was showered with nothing but love from fans wearing black and white anniversary memorabilia shirts that came with a purchase of Wednesday’s tickets.

Abueva gave them something to cheer about: a gritty all-around performance of eight points, seven rebounds, two steals, and a block.

“This is one of the best parts of my story—playing in an event like this,” said the Pampanga native. “It’s an elimination game, but it felt like the Finals. Hopefully, more people support the league. The young guys and vets are really sacrificing every game.”

Abueva, though, said he would’ve have wanted Magnolia–a franchise with 14 titles to its name–to also get the retro treament like the teams in the double header.

“It would’ve been better if we played the second game with all the retro styles,” he said. “We didn’t get that, but at least we played the first game.”

SOARING FUTURE

Magnolia Hotshots’ young guard Jerom Lastimosa during the PBA’s 50th anniversary game. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

If the PBA’s 50th was about honoring the past, appreciating the present, and looking ahead to the future—then Magnolia embodied all three.

On the sidelines stood Patrimonio, representing the past. On the floor, Abueva brought the fire of the present. And waiting on the bench was Jerom Lastimosa—the future in the making and waiting for his number to be called.

Despite being a new soldier in the Magnolia camp, Lastimosa’s been showing some glimpses of what he can do in the big leagues.

READ: Magnolia hopes past lessons can sustain strong opening this time

While he struggled with only two points, sinking just one out of his 10 shots from the field on Wednesday,  he exited the Rizal Memorial Coliseum with a smile.

“When I saw those drums when I walked in, it reminded me of my UAAP days,” said the former Adamson star. “That’s the kind of energy we had there. I immediately thought the game would be good.”

When the fans lined up for tickets under the summer heat, they were treated to free shirt and a lively drumline performance that added to the festival feel of the day.

“It’s my first time playing in a league like this. To be part of its 50th anniversary was such a great experience,” he said.

When fans look back on five decades of the PBA, they will most definitely reminisce the milestones, the icons, and the unforgettable franchises– surely including Magnolia.

And so will Patrimonio, Abueva, and Lastimosa.