WATCH: Magnolia Hotshots Team Initiation at VFarm!

Riding the crest of a historic Asian Games triumph, the Philippine Basketball Association reopens shop with great excitement and enthusiasm, pitting Magnolia and TNT Tropang Giga on Nov. 5 to highlight the Season 48 opener at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It promises to be a grand event, celebrating the return of the PBA from a long break and feting a special team and the special feat it accomplished in the recent Asiad in Hangzhou, China.

During the official season launch at the Diamond Hotel, PBA chairman Ricky Vargas cited achievement and milestones reached by the league in Season 47 – a great ride capped by Gilas Pilipinas’ epic gold-medal run in the Hangzhou Games.

The conquering Asiad heroes are Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee, Gin Kings Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar, San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter, NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino, NLEX’s Kevin Alas, TNT’s Calvin Oftana, Meralco’s Chris Newsome, and Ange Kouame.

“The year ended by us taking the challenge of building a hastily-formed team and we came home with the gold. The PBA is now the gold standard of basketball in the Philippines, that’s what I think. But more importantly, we’re the best in Asia for the next four years,” said Vargas, to cheers from those present in the well-attended affair.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said a special tribute to the gold medal winners will be a part of what is tipped to be a grand season opener ushered in by the Season 47 Leo Awards.

“Maganda ang opening. It’s very special at magandang abangan,” said Marcial of the event to be seen on PBA’s new home ZOE Broadcasting Network as well as on One Sports and PBA Rush on Cignal TV.