GAME TODAY (Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m.-Opening Ceremonies
5:30 p.m.-Coca-Cola vs Talk 'N Text

MANILA, Philippines—A Talk ‘N Text crew which beefed up in the guard spot, and a Coca-Cola side that lives its life around slotman Asi Taulava clash today to formally take the lid off of the PBA's 34th Season with the start of the Philippine Cup eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum.

Jared Dillinger, picked second overall in the Rookie Draft, and Jason Castro, the three-time amateur MVP, will play in local basketball's grandest stage when the Tropang Texters, as the Phone Pals will now be known, battle the Tigers at 5:30 p.m.

There's really nothing new with the Coca-Cola lineup other than the reported reconciliation between coach Binky Favis and John Arigo, the former Alaska gunslinger who spent most of last season on the bench.

Elaborate opening ceremonies precede the only game scheduled.

Popular children showbiz personalities will be the featured guests as the opening-day show, centered on the theme "PBA Caring for Batang Pinoy," touches off the program at 4 p.m.

Child actor Makisig Morales performs with the world-renowned Las Piñas Boys Choir and Cynthia Lora, winner of the World Championship of the Performing Arts competition recently.

Tomorrow, action goes to the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay where Gabe Norwood, the highly-touted former George Mason star in the US NCAA, debuts with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters who are hoping to make the playoffs for the first time.

Rain or Shine, formerly Welcoat, will also parade Solomon Mercado, another Fil-American guard whom the Painters acquired in a trade with Alaska on Draft Day, in their clash against Air21.

The Aces, listed as one of the teams to beat here, get their campaign going also tomorrow, in the second game of a regular twinbill, against the ever-solid San Miguel Beer at 6:50 p.m.

Dillinger, who played collegiate ball for the University of Hawaii, has been touted by not a few to be as good, if not better than Norwood, and will definitely see major minutes right on his first official outing on Philippine soil.

And should he play the point, it would be interesting to see whom Favis will match up against him, considering his 6-foot-5 frame, compared to Coca-Cola guard Alex Cabagnot.

Jimmy Alapag will still be the Talk 'N Text quarterback with Ali Peek and Yancy de Ocampo maning the slot for the Texters after they gave up Jay Washington to San Miguel during the off season.