Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) History

From Hoopedia

History

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) was founded as a "rebellion" of several teams from the now-defunct Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) which was tightly controlled by the Basketball Association of the Philippines, the national association then recognized by FIBA. Emerson Coseteng (owner of Mariwasa-Norikate) met with several MICAA club owners and managers to show his plans of a professional league similar to the National Basketball Association of the United States. One month before the first season began, nine MICAA teams (Mariwasa-Norikate, Crispa, Toyota, Concepcion Carrier, Royal Tru-Orange, CFC, 7-Up, Tanduay and U-Tex) signed up with the league which was christened Philippine Basketball Association.

Leo Prieto, the coach of the 1956 Philippine Olympics Team, was appointed as the first commissioner and Domingo Itchon of Tanduay was chosen as the league's first president.

The first game of the league was held at the Araneta Coliseum on April 9, 1975 featuring Mariwasa-Norikate and Concepcion Carrier.