PBA greats Jimmy Noblezada and Elmer 'Boy' Cabahug graced the league's 50th anniversary celebration, providing a piece of nostalgia to the once-in-a-lifetime event held at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum Wednesday night.
Noblezada, acknowledged as the original PBA Iron Man, and Cabahug, one of the finest shooting guards during his playing days, were introduced to the jampacked crowd just before the retro game pitting San Miguel - the only surviving original franchise in the league - and Meralco.
Now 74, Noblezada gamely banged bodies with Meralco's Raymond Almazan and San Miguel counterpart June Mar Fajardo before he and Cabahug took their photos with the Beermen and Bolts, respectively, at center court.
Also joining them were Commissioner Willie Marcial and PBA Board Vice Chairman Alfrancis Chua.
"Kung walang PBA, wala ako," acknowledged Noblezada, who suited up in the first ever PBA game to be played on April 9, 1975 between Concepcion Carrier and Mariwasa Noritake.
Sponsored content:
The 6-foot-2 product of University of San Agustin played for two seasons with Concepcion before transferring to U-Tex, where he won two championships under coach Tommy Manotoc.
He retired in 1981 after playing in 275 games and averaged 10.5 points per game.
Cabahug, 60, meanwhile was a draft pick of the Alaska Aces in 1989 and won two championships in a career that spanned for a decade.
"I'm very honored na napunta ulit ako dito," said the 6-foot shooting guard and former coach of the University of the Visayas. "It's a nice feeling to look back at your experiences before. Basketball is my first love talaga."
Currently the sports consultant of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and the Mandaue Sports Commission, Cabahug played for Alaska, Purefoods (now Magnolia), Pepsi, and Sta. Lucia.
Sponsored content:
It was while with the Hotdogs that he won his two league titles under the late coach Ely Capacio and Chot Reyes.
Cabahug played in 455 games and averaged 13.7 points, while becoming the 33rd player to reach the 5,000-point club.(RG)
