1990 Añejo Rum 65 TV Commercial Featuring Robert Jaworski

Recent media reports tell about a survey showing that Filipinos ranked third among the world's heavy drinkers. Filipinos tend to drink all year round to mark any event conceivable. Both situations worth grieving or celebrating warrant a tagay (shot) while making inuman (drinking spree).

As a result, I got reminded of Filipinos' passion for basketball, especially for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel team. Everyone knows that Ginebra San Miguel is a gin brand. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the team was known as Añejo Rum 65. The team was led by playing coach Robert Jaworski.

One of the well-remembered television commercials of the rum brand first aired in 1990. Highlighting  the tag line Bidang-Bida sa Bidahan! it featured a group of friends who enjoy the rum while watching Jaworski demonstrate his basketball skills on TV. The drinking buddies then use makeshift instruments to accompany the Añejo Rum tune: a saw, a strip of cellophane and one's own armpit!

Video Credit: Youtube / fiahstatah

Remembering the Metropolitan Basketball Association

The Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) or Metroball was a professional basketball league in the Philippines from 1998 to 2002. Backed by the ABS-CBN Sports, MBA was regarded as a foil to the older and more established Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Source: YouTube / Axesys08

Each MBA team represents a city, province or island in the country. On the contrary, PBA teams are named after companies or product brands. With the thrust towards regional pride, MBA's popularity among fans skyrocketed quickly. Huge expenses, mainly related to travel and logistics, took its toll. ABS-CBN withdrew funding, leading to the league's eventual dissolution in 2002.


During the inaugural season, MBA's 12 teams were grouped into the Northern and Southern Conferences. The Northern Conference comprises the Pangasinan Presidents, Pampanga Dragons, Manila Metrostars, Pasig Blue Pirates and Laguna Lakers. The Southern Conference comprises Iloilo Volts, Negros Slashers, Cebu Gems, Cagayan De Oro Nuggets, Davao Eagles and SocSarGen Marlins.


The inaugural games were held at the Narciso Ramos Sports & Civic Center on March 7, 1998. Those matches were simulcast on Studio 23 and IBC-13. Peter Martin of the Manila Metrostars made the first shot in the league's history. His team won against the Cebu Gems. In the second game, however, the Max Delantes-led Socsargen Marlins defeated host Pangasinan Presidents (which was later renamed Waves).


Following is a video of the introduction to each MBA game broadcast during the league's first season. It is characterized by a ball that travels across the Philippines, making a stop in the geographical area that each team represents. Towards the end of the introduction, main players from the opposing conferences face each other and vie for the ball.



Video Credit: YouTube / Axesys08

The Legendary Robert Jaworski a.k.a. Jawo

The legendary No. 7 jersey of  Philippine cage icon Robert Jaworski will be retired today in a ceremony at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Jaworski after leading the Gordon's Gin Boars team to the PBA Commissioner's Cup in 1997 (SOURCE: The Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 1997)