Birth of the PBA

A dispute between officials of the Basketball Association of the Philippines and the MICAA led to the creation of the professional Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in 1975. Most of the national players and young talents turned pro leaving the country with raw, untested players for its international commitments.

The pioneers of the PBA are the basketball teams of Toyota, Crispa, Utex, Tanduay, Mariwasa, San Miguel, 7-UP and CFC. The first group of PBA players which emerged as the first PBA Champion was the Toyota COMETS team composed of Alberto Reynoso, Orlando Bauzon, Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Rodolfo Segura, Fortunato Acuna, Francis Arnaiz, Cristino Reynoso, Aurelio Clarino, Oscar Rocha, Joaquin Rojas, Jr., Robrto Concepcion, and Gil Cortez, Not in photo, Byron (Snake) Jones, Stan Cherry.