I just
read that several players from the PBA that I used to watch in the 80's are going to be inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame on Sept. 19, 2009 at the Sofitel Hotel.
Just reading that article brings back memories. I remember being so addicted to basketball at that time that I watched every game even if I have an exam the next day.
My fondest memory of the PBA games in the 80's was when San Miguel won the grand slam championship iin 1989. From the first to the third conference, they were the dominant team. The best thing about it was I got to see some players who were at their prime or who came back for that season alone.
An example would be Ricardo Brown (who is going to be inducted), when he came back during the championship game against Anejo. That was the first time I saw Ricardo Brown play and I was shocked at how good he was. I don't remember the exact details, but I seem to recall he was either on the injured list or retired because of a heart condition. But San Miguel brought him back and he played against Anejo. At one point in the fourth quarter. I believe the Beermen was down and Ricardo Brown came into the game and dominated the whole quarter. He pretty much got Anejo's import Carlos Briggs fouled out because he kept fishing for fouls and got them.
The funny thing about it was, Carlos Briggs was a completely dominant import while San Miguel's import Ennis Whatley was a calm player. Carlos Briggs can dunk and hit 3 point shots and nobody can stop him. Until Ricardo Brown came in and fouled him out.
The San Miguel team was unbeatable that year.
Of course, who can forget The Skywalker Samboy Lim, I think that was the only year where he was healthy. Most of the time he is on the sidelines due to an injury. He was great, but he was just injured a lot. It was a dirty game back then especially when you're playing against Anejo and Jaworski.
If you were watching the PBA in those times, you have to remember The Triggerman Allan Caidic's achievement in November 21, 1991 when he "set the PBA all-time records of the most points in a single game by a Filipino (79 points), the most points in a single half (53 points), the most points in a single quarter (37 points), the most three-point field goals made and attempts in a game (17/27 triples), the most three-point field goals made in a quarter (8 triples) and the most consecutive three-point field goals made in a single game (8 triples), to lead Presto Tivoli against Ginerbra San Miguel." --
from Wikipedia. Sorry, I had to copy and paste it since it was too much to type.
Hector "The Director" Calma is also going to be inducted as well as seven time Best Import winner Bobby Parks.
Those were good times to watch basketball and play basketball. I don't watch that much basketball anymore. When the Fil-Ams started coming in, it started to look like an NBA wannabe. Nothing wrong with that, but it seems like everyone now is an import. But without the explosiveness of true NBA players.
I don't even watch that much NBA now. I hardly watched the finals with Lakers against the Magic. I usually just watch from the half time onward. Either I have grown tired of basketball or the game isn't the same anymore.
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