The PBA hopes to welcome the 49th Season not only with a touch of beauty and glamour but also with bolder innovations in its great desire to restore the luster and popularity of the league. The PBA is set for its return to action with the Season 48 Leo Awards rolling out the red carpet to the Season 49 opening rites at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Aug. 18.
Looking back at the colorful season, the league is set to honor the outstanding players from the last year, highlighted by the awarding of the 48th Season Most Valuable Player at 4 p.m. before the parade of teams featuring their lovely and beautiful muses at the 5 p.
m. Raising the curtain to the Season 49 action is the clash between strong title contenders Magnolia and Meralco at 7:30 p.m.
before an expected huge crowd especially with opening day tickets are priced at only P49. At the Leos, all eyes should be on seven-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel as he looked to be on pace of bagging an unprecedented eighth MVP plum although teammate CJ Perez and Terrafirma’s Christian Standhardinger are out to play spoiler to the Kraken’s historic night. Olympic and sporting beauties as well as beauty queens and celebrities grace the hardcourt as they join their teams in the opening ceremonies that also featured performances from popular singer-songwriter Arthur Nery, rapper Heb Avi and actress Angeli Khang.
Singer-actress Julie Anne San Jose is back as one of the muses, having been part of Magnolia.