New team to beat

With one of last year’s top rookies signed to a fresh deal and an elite big man finally in its camp, TNT KaTropa’s prospects of ending a seven-year wait for a Philippine Cup title look brighter than ever.

And TNT active consultant Mark Dickel knows anything less than a championship will be a failure for the KaTropa, with sophomore Ray Parks on board and center Poy Erram acquired in a three-team trade with NLEX and Blackwater.

“We’re desperately trying to win a championship,” said Dickel, whose team opens its campaign in the league’s 45th season against Phoenix Super LPG at Smart Araneta Coliseum at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

“So expectations don’t mean anything. All we’ve got to do is get in the games and prove it. I’m sure all the teams feel the same.” The championship window for the KaTropa opened up with the 6-foot-7 Erram in the mix coupled by the absence of two of the league’s top big men in June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel and Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra.

TNT has not won the most prestigious trophy in the league since the 2012-2013 season. But with a possible starting five that includes Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Parks and Erram, the KaTropa look loaded for a deep run.

Former La Salle skipper Kib Montalbo was also picked up from the draft to shore up a backcourt rotation that also has Simon Enciso, who was acquired in a trade with Alaska for Mike DiGregorio.

Phoenix is looking for redemption in the all-Filipino conference as the Fuel Masters put to waste their top seeding in the elimination round last year when they lost to San Miguel in the best-of-five semifinals.

The Wednesday double-header will also have NLEX and NorthPort colliding in the second game. The league however, was slated to discuss late on Tuesday measures to take in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak. INQ