New-look Batang Pier eye s’final stint behind ‘Big 3’

Expect an exciting and explosive Globalport Batang Pier in the coming Philippine Basketball Association season.

Globalport owner Mikee Romero made the promise yesterday after completely retooling his team in the offseason to focus primarily on youth and speed.

“If you watch us play, you will say that this is an entirely different team from the one you saw last season,” said Romero in the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Romero, who personally handpicked the players of his ballclub, began the overhaul by acquiring energetic Filipino-American guard Stanley Pringle, the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s rookie class.

Team captain Alex Cabagnot and flashy point guard Terrence Romeo are projected to form Globalport’s Big 3 with Pringle.

“Our forecast is to land in the semifinals and we have three conferences to do it,” said Romero in the program backed by Accel and Pagcor.

The 40th PBA Season kicks off on Sunday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, with newcomers Blackwater and Kia opening the season followed by the match between Barangay Ginebra and Talk ‘N Text.

The Batang Pier will start their campaign against the NLEX Road Warriors on Oct. 21 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.