Coaches say SMB, Tanduay have edge

The consensus among PBA coaches is that San Miguel Beer and Tanduay Rhum are the teams to beat in the 26th PBA season which comes off the wraps Feb. 20 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Attending the PSA Sports Forum at the Holiday Inn yesterday, the mentors were also one in the belief that Mobiline is among the stronger teams this year even without Asi Taulava, Alaska remains a contender despite the departure of Jojo Lastimosa and Sta. Lucia and Pop Cola have nowhere to go but up.

And coaches Jong Uichico of San Miguel, Alfrancis Chua of Tanduay, Tim Cone of Alaska, Eric Altamirano of Mobiline, Norman Black of Sta. Lucia, Chot Reyes of Pop Cola and Yeng Guiao of Red Bull seem to have good reasons for their predictions.

San Miguel is counting on its championship experience and built-in teamwork to carry the team through the challenges a year after the franchise captured back-to-back championships.

Tanduay, meanwhile, looks capable of playing even bigger in its second year in the league with its talented youthful squad souped up by its acquisition of Jeffrey Cariaso and Dondon Hontiveros.

But with practically all the teams also beefing up their lineups during the off-season, Uichico and Chua believe they will have their hands full making a successful campaign.

"We were not able to beef up the team and acquire some of the players we wanted. We just have to try to maximize what we have. We need to make adjustments on offense and defense," said Uichico.

"Lahat ng teams nagpalakas. Lahat ngayon competitive. It is a more balanced league," said Chua.