PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, Board of Governors, and officials unveiling the ‘PBA 50’ logo for the league’s 50th Anniversary celebration later this year. Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News.MANILA — The PBA has officially unveiled its logo for its upcoming celebration of its 50th anniversary later this year.

The league revealed its logo which displays the text ‘PBA 50’ all dressed in gold, and it aims to signify the long journey that Asia’s first play-for-pay league went through since its inception in 1975.

“Ito po yung pag-launch natin ng ating 50th anniversary,” said PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial during a press conference on Monday in Mandaluyong, sharing how the league will be holding a number of festivities starting the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals on February 26.

“Ito po, magsisimula sa semifinals. Sa semis may patch, patch lang muna. Pero start ng April 4 or 5 [ng Philippine Cup], may naka embed na. Lahat ng merchandising natin [may 50th logo] na. Uniforms, referees, lahat,” he added.

Aside from this, the PBA also plans to hold celebrations both on April 9, the actual birth date of the league, and the weekend following it, but this is still different from the grand opening of Season 50 which is, as of present, scheduled on October 5 at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Yung mga patches natin lahat 50th anniversary. April, yung ating birth month, dadagdag natin yung additional 10 sa 50 greatest players. October 5, yun ang pinakamalaking event. Iniimbita natin lahat ng players,” he shared.

The October opening will be a homecoming of sorts for former league players, officials, executives, and personalities who have been involved in the league through the years, and the PBA will also unveil a new championship trophy on that day.

Aside from this, the league will also roll out programs to further establish their connection with their fans.

Among the PBA’s plans are the mall and school tours featuring all 12 teams and their respective players, the adopt-a-court program, and the return of the Homecourt, where the league makes a surprise visit to different courts around various barangays in the National Capital Region (NCR).

These, according to Board of Governors Vice Chairman Alfrancis Chua, have been in the works since mid-2024.

“‘Di ‘to pinlano lang agad-agad,” said the Barangay Ginebra team governor. “Pinlano namin ‘to since nung planning pa [last year], pero gusto lang naming isa-isahin yung mga plano namin.”

“We want to reach out. Ibalik natin yung pag-punta sa mga basketball courts kung saan galing mga players para ma-realize nila kung saan sila galing, at yung mga naglalaro sa NCAA at UAAP to follow their footsteps.”

“Exciting ‘to dahil magiging napakalaking event ‘to. Gagawin nating very big event ito para matuwa ang mga tao,” he added.