I still remember the humidity that night in Araneta Coliseum - that thick Manila air clinging to our shirts as we found our seats in the upper box section. My father had managed to score tickets through a coworker, and for a twelve-year-old basketball fanatic like me, this wasn't just another game - this was the 1990 PBA All-Star Game, the kind of event you remember decades later. The energy in that arena was something you could almost taste, a mixture of sweat, anticipation, and the faint scent of liniment from the players' warm-up routines. Little did I know we were about to witness what would become legendary - what fans would later call the epic 1990 PBA All-Star Game, a matchup that would be discussed in basketball circles for years to come.
What made that particular All-Star Game so memorable wasn't just the final score or which team won - honestly, I'd have to look up who actually took home the victory - but rather those incredible moments that unfolded throughout the evening. The first half had been competitive enough, with both squads trading baskets and the crowd responding with appropriate enthusiasm. But everything changed after halftime, when the game transformed from an exhibition into something approaching basketball mythology. I recall leaning forward in my seat, my Coke Zero forgotten and slowly getting warm as the players began treating this like Game 7 of a championship series rather than an All-Star showcase.
The third quarter had just begun when we witnessed what I'd consider the first truly unforgettable moment - Alvin Patrimonio driving baseline against two defenders, somehow contorting his body mid-air, and converting a reverse layup while getting fouled. The entire coliseum erupted in a way I hadn't heard before or since, a collective roar that seemed to shake the very foundations of the building. My father grabbed my shoulder and shook me excitedly, both of us standing and applauding along with fifteen thousand other fans who recognized we'd seen something special. That play seemed to ignite something in both teams, raising the competitive temperature by several degrees and setting the stage for what was to follow.
What made reliving the epic 1990 PBA All-Star Game so compelling years later is how different players stepped up at different moments. I distinctly remember watching Ronnie Magsanoc orchestrate the offense with a kind of quiet mastery, his no-look passes finding cutters that only he seemed to notice were open. Then there was Benjie Paras - my personal favorite at the time - dominating the paint with a series of powerful dunks that had our section stomping our feet so hard I worried about the structural integrity of the bleachers. But perhaps the most remarkable performance came from someone playing through significant pain, a detail I only learned about years later when reading through archival game reports.
This brings me to Calvin Oftana's performance that night - though honestly, at the time, I had no idea he was battling through injuries. Watching him move up and down the court, you'd never guess the man was dealing with not one, but two ankle sprains. I learned later that Calvin Oftana had 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists despite sustaining ankle sprains on both feet - a statistic that still boggles my mind when I think about it. I remember him hitting a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter that brought the North team within striking distance, then following it up with a defensive stop on the very next possession. The man was clearly in pain - I can see that now when I rewatch the grainy footage - but he played with a determination that transcended physical limitations.
The final two minutes of that game contained what might be the most dramatic sequence I've ever witnessed in person. With the score tied and the shot clock winding down, Vergel Meneses received a pass at the top of the key, pump-faked his defender into the air, took one dribble to his left, and launched a fadeaway jumper that seemed to hang in the air forever before swishing through the net. The celebration that followed nearly caused a minor earthquake in Quezon City, or at least that's how it felt from where I was standing, screaming myself hoarse along with everyone around me. That shot ultimately proved to be the game-winner, though the South team had one last possession that nearly resulted in a miraculous buzzer-beater that rattled in and out.
As we filed out of the arena that night, the buzz among departing fans was palpable - everyone understood we'd witnessed something beyond the ordinary All-Star affair. My father kept repeating, "That was special, son. Remember this game," and indeed I have, for over three decades now. The 1990 edition stood apart because it managed to balance entertainment with genuine competition, showcasing incredible individual talents while delivering the intensity of a playoff game. Those top unforgettable moments - from Patrimonio's acrobatic and-one to Meneses' clutch game-winner - have become part of Philippine basketball lore, the kind of stories older fans like me tell younger generations to illustrate how magnificent the game can be when stars align, both literally and figuratively.
What strikes me now, looking back, is how that single game encapsulated everything I love about basketball - the artistry, the drama, the unexpected heroes, and the sheer willpower of athletes pushing through physical barriers. Calvin Oftana playing through dual ankle sprains to contribute meaningfully remains one of the most impressive displays of toughness I've witnessed, though at the time I was too young to appreciate the full context of his performance. The 1990 PBA All-Star Game wasn't just an exhibition - it was a testament to why we fall in love with sports in the first place, those rare occasions when competition transcends entertainment and becomes something closer to art. I feel fortunate to have been there in person, to have experienced those unforgettable moments as they unfolded rather than through highlight reels, and to have shared that experience with my father, who still brings up that game whenever we watch basketball together.