MANILA, Philippines - Para sa 36th season na tatampukan ng Philippine Cup, ibabalik ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) ang bantog na ‘no harm, no foul’.
“We’re eliminating touch fouls, flopping, marginal contact will be left off,” ani PBA Commissioner Chito Salud. “We’ll emphasize on the provision of the rule book on incidental contact. And we’ll make it sure that only the obvious plays and hard contact will be called foul because that’s what we think the Filipinos like and that’s the brand of play that we’ve been known to have over the years.”
Determinado si Salud, anak ni dating PBA Commisisioner Atty. Rudy Salud, na ibalik ang matinding bakbakan sa bawat laro ng PBA na natunghayan ng mga basketball fans noong 1980’s hanggang 1990’s.
“The passion for the game was flowing over to the fans and vice versa. Remember, you had a Sonny Jaworski admitted, with due respect, was not the most gifted player that we had. But what made him the most popular player, it’s because he gave his heart out, he gave his best,” ani Salud.
Nakatakdang magtagpo ang Barangay Ginebra at ang Meralco ngayong alas-6 ng gabi para sa pagbubukas ng 2010-2011 PBA Philippine Cup sa Araneta Coliseum.
Ibabandera ng Bolts, binili ang prangkisa ng Sta. Lucia Realtors, sina 6-foot-9 veteran Asi Taulava at 6’8 Marlou Aquino bukod pa kina 6’6 Beau Belga, Ford Arao, 6’5 Gabby Espinas at 6’4 Bitoy Omolon para sa kanilang frontline.
Muli namang aasahan ng Gin Kings sina 6’8 Yancy de Ocampo, 6’5 Eric Menk at 6’4 Rudy Hatfield sa shaded lane at sina Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Ronald Tubid at two-time Most Valuable Player Willie Miller sa backcourt.
Ipaparada rin ng Ginebra ni coach Jong Uichico sina collegiate stars John Wilson at Jimbo Aquino mula sa nakaraang PBA Rookie Draft.