New records eyed as PBA’s 40th season opens Sunday

Philippine Arena. Photo by NOY MORCOSO III/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the pioneering professional basketball league in Asia, will usher in its 40th Season Sunday at the newly-built Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

This year, the league will have a record 12 teams with the inclusion of Kia Motors and Blackwater Sports as well as NLEX, which acquired the Air21 franchise, last April.

And fittingly, Kia and Blackwater are pitted against each other in the first game of the Philippine Cup this season at 3:00 p.m. following the opening ceremonies at 1:00 p.m.

NLEX won six championships in the D-League and the Road Warriors look to bring their same brand of basketball in the PBA.

In the main game, crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and old rival Talk ‘N Text clash at 5:00 p.m in a match that will surely rock the Iglesia ni Cristo-owned arena.

The opening day is also expected to break the crowd record in a PBA game with the Philippine Arena able to accommodate about 55,000 people.

Kia will be headed by its playing-coach and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao while Blackwater, which made a name for its franchise in the PBA D-League where it won a championship, will bank on a crew of youthful and experienced players in veterans Sunday Salvacion, Paul Artadi and JR Cawaling and young guns Alex Nuyles, Robby Celiz and Brian Heruela to name a few.

“The team is excited. We’ll be out there already thinking that we’re going to play before 50,000 fans,” said Blackwater head coach Leo Isaac.

The Kings on the other hand, are hoping to finally end a six-year title drought with chief playmaker LA Tenorio, leader Mark Caguioa and big men Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar in tow.

But Ginebra’s opening day assignment promises to be a tough one with the Tropang Texters, under new head coach Jong Uichico, fielding in a re-energized squad with rookies Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Kevin Alas along with veteran forward Jay Washington giving the team a different dimension.

The three will be teaming up with battle-tested veterans and Gilas Pilipinas stars in Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag.

TNT is the only team yet to win three straight Philippine Cup championships after pulling off the feat from 2010 to 2012 before San Mig Coffee won in 2013.

The Mixers, coming off a Grand Slam, will be gunning for a fifth straight championship this conference.

Rain or Shine, having retained its core with ace guard Paul Lee opting to stay, will again be one of the top contenders along with San Miguel Beer and Alaska.

The Beermen, the winningest franchise in the league with 19 titles, will also be under the guidance of a new head coach in Leo Austria. SMB flaunts a fancied roster led by reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo.

The Aces, like the Beermen also have that winning tradition under their belts. Apart from Alaska’s usual hitters Sonny Thoss, JVee Casio and Cyrus Baguio, the team beefed up its roster when projected No. 2 pick Chris Banchero dropped into the Aces’ laps at fifth.

Banchero, the crack Fil-Italian point guard, is expected to make an impact right away.

And so is the top overall pick this year in Stanley Pringle.

Pringle, the 27-year-old guard, is hoped by GlobalPort to be its missing piece to finally be serious contenders for the title after successive subpar seasons.

Meralco also sees the new season as the time to finally get over the hump. The Bolts will bring back Jared Dillinger and Gary David but will now have a new head coach manning the sidelines in Norman Black.

Not to be outdone, Barako Bull, which gave teams a run for their money last season, aims to surpass its performance this year behind guards Denok Miranda, Jeric Fortuna, Carlo Lastimosa and newly-acquired RR Garcia. The Energy also drafted former San Beda big man Jake Pascual and De La Salle shot blocker Phillip Paredes.

A record of 12 teams and a record crowd expected in opening day. The league’s 40th Season promises to be the best one yet.

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