THERE was basically a very same answer when coaches were asked to rank the teams for the PBA Philippine Cup that opens today at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
As has been in recent years in this tournament, and because of the addition of 6-foot-9 phenom June Mar Fajardo, Petron Blaze was the hands-down choice as the prohibitive team to beat in the season-opening tournament.
Defending champion Talk ‘N Text and powerhouse B-Meg, now San Mig Coffee, led by the streak-shooting former two-time MVP James Yap, complete the top three list of favorites with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Rain or Shine ranked next.
The Boosters have one of the most solid lineups on paper, and will be coached for the first time by one of the team’s former all-time greats, Olsen Racela, with former national team coach Rajko Toroman by his side.
Toroman has reportedly been presiding over the preparations of the Boosters using the same style he did while running the initial Smart Gilas-Pilipinas program composed mostly of amateurs and naturalized center Marcus Douthit.
Talk ‘N Text, which will try to become the first team since defunct Crispa to win the all-Filipino tournament three straight years, retained basically the same lineup that it had in winning this event last season under coach Chot Reyes.
While Yap remains to be the focal point of the Mixers’ offense, San Mig Coffee looms great because of a solid supporting cast that has Marc Pingris, Peter June Simon, Joe de Vance and JC Intal.
Tim Cone will be shooting for a title that would match the all-time mark being held by the retired coaching great, Baby Dalupan, with another championship run for Yap and Co. here.
Known as the Llamados last season, the Mixers ruled the Commissioner’s Cup in seven gripping games against Talk ‘N Text with import Denzel Bowles leading the way.
A championship here would tie Cone with Dalupan with 15 each.
“Petron, Talk ‘N Text and San Mig Coffee,” Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen said when asked to rank the top teams. “And then Rain or Shine and us.”
Rain or Shine scored a breakthrough championship in the Governors’ Cup last season, defeating Cone and Yap even without eventual Rookie of the Year Paul in the last five games of the best-of-seven series.
With Gabe Norwood showing vast offensive improvement with the Smart Gilas-Pilipinas squad in two international tournaments recently, and with Jeff Chan remaining to be one of the most fearsome outside gunners, the Elasto Painters do look formidable.
Lee will be coming off a shoulder operation and is expected to miss most of the tournament, and the Painters will be giving Chris Tiu the time on the floor to quarterback the Rain or Shine offense.
Tiu, the mainstay of the national team, decided to turn pro this season at the ripe age of 26 and was picked seventh overall by coach Yeng Guiao.
His arrival at Rain or Shine not only gives the team another welcome marketing asset, but also one of the smartest point guards to ever come out of the amateur ranks in recent years.
Ginebra still has reigning MVP Mark Caguioa, and bolstered its stock with the addition of two Fil-American rookies in Chris Ellis and Keith Jensen before bagging a huge prize in the trading game in LA Tenorio from Alaska.
Alaska, meanwhile, added JV Casio and the veteran Dondon Hontiveros in that blockbuster deal and could be the darkhorse in the tournament.
Sonny Thoss will play a big role in the middle for the Aces.