PBA legends mull grand reunion game

MANILA, Philippines – PBA pioneer stars Ramon Fernandez, Atoy Co and Philip Cezar lead a stellar cast of retired players that will sit down in a meeting with league commissioner Willie Marcial on Tuesday for an initial talk for what could well be another grand reunion game among PBA’s greatest stars of the past.

The legends set the meeting with the PBA top honcho after their own brainstorming session Tuesday also attended by Ramon Fernandez, Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic, Kenneth Duremdes, Jojo Lastimosa, Pido Jarencio, Ed Cordero and Art dela Cruz.

The elite list has a combined collection of 12 MVP trophies, 11 from five players — Fernandez, Patrimonio, Co, Cezar and Caidic — who are also PBA Hall of Fame inductees.

Co, the 1979 MVP winner, initiated the brainstorming meeting where numerous inputs were put on the table.

“Many good ideas have come out, and we will share these with commissioner Willie Marcial,” said one legend who refused to be identified.

High on the list of possible projects is a double-header among the best rivalries in the 90s – Alaska Milk versus San Miguel Beer and Purefoods versus Ginebra.

This bill would feature big stars including Fernandez, Lastimosa, Patrimonio, Duremdes, Ato Agustin, Hector Calma, Johnny Abarrientos, Bong Hawkins, Jeffrey Cariaso, Jerry Codinera, Chito Loyzaga, Vince Hizon, Marlou Aquino, Noli Locsin, Bal David and many others.

Two classic legends games have been held in the past, including the Crispa-Toyota reunion game in 2003 then a showdown among the 25 PBA greatest players.

Obviously, the group wants to raise funds to help peers who are in need now.

The group is also looking forward to hold a fund-raising celebrity golf event. Co, Fernandez and Lastimosa are among legends who play golf.