The Philippine Basketball Association hosts an opening ceremony to start each season since its establishment in 1975.Star-filled PBA Opening Ceremonies at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Kaye Estoista-Koo, Philippine Entertainment Portal, October 3, 2011 The event includes musical performances, a team parade, and speeches from key figures in the league. It is then succeeded by the first game or first two games of the elimination round of the first conference of the season.
Overview
An opening ceremonies is held to mark the start of the season since the league's maiden season in 1975. The ceremonies typically start with an entertainment show, depending on the theme for that year. Usual highlights are performances of Filipino artists and speeches from the league commissioner and other invited guests. A parade of participating teams follows afterwards. Each team marches into the venue together with their muses. After all of the teams have paraded, the season's chairman of the PBA Board of Governors gives a speech and afterwards, he will officially declare the season open.
After the opening ceremonies, a lone game, the first game for the season, will be played. From 1975 to 1994, two games were played immediately following the ceremonies.
Venue From 1975 to 1984, the league opened its season at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the league's primary venue for its games. After the league transferred its operations at the University of Life Theater and Recreational Arena (ULTRA) in Pasig, the opening ceremonies were exclusively held there from 1985 to 1992. After the fallout between the PBA and the Philippine Sports Commission, which operates the ULTRA, the league transferred its operations at the then newly built Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay in 1993. The league's opening ceremonies and the majority of its games were held at the Astrodome from 1993 to 1998. After the exclusive contract in the Cuneta Astrodome expired in 1999, the league returned to its previous home, The ULTRA, now renamed as the PhilSports Arena and held its opening ceremonies there for the first time in six years. When the league celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2000, the opening ceremonies were held at the Araneta Coliseum, where the league was inaugurated. The ceremonies were held at the venue exclusively until 2013.
For the 2013–14 season, the league's opening ceremonies was held at three different locations covering Luzon (Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City), Visayas (Cebu Coliseum), and Mindanao (USEP Gymnasium, Davao City).Ginebra-San Mig duel to highlight unique three-game bill on PBA opening day, Snow Badua, Spin.ph, October 30, 2013
The league opened its 2014–15 season at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan; this was the first time that the league had its opening ceremonies outside Metro Manila and it was the first non-Iglesia ni Cristo and commercial event that was held in the arena.
The 2015–16 season opener was supposed to be held on October 18, 2015, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum but was suspended due to the onslaught of Typhoon Lando (international name: Kuppo). Instead, the opening was held on October 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. This was the first time for the following: suspension of opening ceremonies due to bad weather, an opening ceremonies that was held on a weekday, and the first opening ceremonies held in the Mall of Asia Arena.
Due to COVID-19 related restrictions, the 2021 opening ceremonies were held at the Ynares Sports Arena with no audience in the venue. The traditional parade of teams with muses was not done and a “simple” opening ceremonies were held instead. Players were present virtually.
Venues Season Date VenueGamesRef.1975 April 9 Araneta Coliseum Concepcion Carrier vs. Mariwasa-Noritake Toyota vs. U/Tex 1976 March 21 Araneta Coliseum 1977 April 17 Araneta Coliseum 1978 April 16 Araneta Coliseum 1979 April 1 Araneta Coliseum 1980 March 16 Araneta Coliseum 1981 March 8 Araneta Coliseum 1982 March 7 Araneta Coliseum 1983 March 6 Araneta Coliseum 1984 March 25 Araneta Coliseum 1985 March 3 The Ultra 1986 April 6 The Ultra 1987 March 22 The Ultra Hills Bros. vs. Magnolia Tanduay vs. Great Taste 1988 March 20 The Ultra Great Taste vs. Shell San Miguel vs. Purefoods 1989 March 5 The Ultra Alaska vs. Presto San Miguel vs. Shell 1990 February 18 The Ultra Pop Cola vs. Pepsi Purefoods vs. San Miguel 1991 February 17 The Ultra Pepsi vs. Shell San Miguel vs. Purefoods 1992 February 9 The Ultra Presto vs. Swift Purefoods vs. Shell 1993 February 28 Cuneta Astrodome Shell vs. Sta. Lucia Ginebra vs. 7-Up 1994 March 6 Cuneta Astrodome Tondeña vs. Sta. Lucia Alaska vs. Shell 1995 February 19 Cuneta Astrodome Ginebra vs. Shell 1996 February 18 Cuneta Astrodome Purefoods vs. San Miguel 1997 February 16 Cuneta Astrodome Alaska vs. Mobiline 1998 February 1 Cuneta Astrodome Pop Cola vs. San Miguel 1999 February 7 PhilSports Arena Mobiline vs. Tanduay 2000 February 20 Araneta Coliseum Red Bull vs. Barangay Ginebra 2001 January 28 Araneta Coliseum Alaska vs. Sta. Lucia 2002 February 10 Araneta Coliseum Coca-Cola vs. FedEx 2003 February 23 Araneta Coliseum Alaska vs. Sta. Lucia 2004 Fiesta February 22 Araneta Coliseum Barangay Ginebra vs. Shell 2004–05 October 3 Araneta Coliseum San Miguel vs. Talk 'N Text 2005–06 October 2 Araneta Coliseum Red Bull vs. Purefoods 2006–07 October 1 Araneta Coliseum Welcoat vs. Barangay Ginebra 2007–08 October 14 Araneta Coliseum Air21 vs. Magnolia 2008–09 October 4 Araneta Coliseum Coca-Cola vs. Talk 'N Text 2009–10 October 11 Araneta Coliseum Burger King vs. Purefoods 2010–11 October 3 Araneta Coliseum Barangay Ginebra vs. Meralco 2011–12 October 2 Smart Araneta Coliseum Rain or Shine vs. Barangay Ginebra 2012–13 September 30 Smart Araneta Coliseum Barangay Ginebra vs. GlobalPort 2013–14 November 17 Smart Araneta Coliseum (main venue) Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City USEP Gymnasium, Davao City Barangay Ginebra vs. San Mig Super Coffee Meralco vs. Talk 'N Text Alaska vs. Rain or Shine Ginebra-San Mig duel to highlight unique three-game bill on PBA opening day, Snow Badua, Spin.ph, October 30, 20132014–15 October 19 Philippine Arena Kia vs. Blackwater Talk 'N Text vs. Barangay Ginebra Salud says it's 'all systems go' for staging of PBA opening games at Philippine Arena, Snow Badua, spin.ph, September 18, 20142015–16 October 21 Mall of Asia Arena Rain or Shine vs. Star PBA moves opening ceremonies, RoS-Star game to Wednesday, PBA.ph, October 18, 20152016–17 November 20 Smart Araneta Coliseum San Miguel vs. Star A parade of beauty in PBA Sunday Opening, PBA.inquirer.net, November 18, 20162017–18 December 17 Smart Araneta Coliseum San Miguel vs. Phoenix San Miguel starts Philippine Cup title defense as PBA Season 43 kicks off, Paul Lintag, ABS-CBN Sports, December 17, 20172019 January 13 Philippine Arena Barangay Ginebra vs. TNT In break from tradition, PBA Leo Awards to kick off season on January 13, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, December 26, 20182020 (Season 45) March 8 Smart Araneta Coliseum San Miguel vs. Magnolia 2021 (Season 46) July 16 Ynares Sports Arena Alaska vs. Blackwater Meralco vs. NorthPort 2022–23 (Season 47) June 5 Smart Araneta Coliseum Converge vs. Rain or Shine Magnolia vs. TNT 2023–24 (Season 48) November 5 Smart Araneta Coliseum Magnolia vs. TNT 2024–25 (Season 49) August 18 Smart Araneta Coliseum Meralco vs. Magnolia 2025–26 (Season 50) October 5 Smart Araneta Coliseum Magnolia vs. Barangay Ginebra
References
External links PBA Official Website