Completing a successful title defense in the Commissioner’s Cup, the Beermen embark on the same mission here with old reliable import Lamont Strothers in tow.
Sta. Lucia Realty, which had a breakthrough runner-up finish in the second conference, meanwhile, is hoping for more improvement, and the team starts its quest to finally go to the top as it takes on Mobiline.
The Realtors, having Joe Temple back for another tour of duty, tackle Tod Bernard and the Phone Pals at 5:15 p.m., then Strothers and the Beermen tangle with Roy Hammonds and the Gin Kings at 7:30 p.m.
The consensus among coaches is that the Beermen are once again the team to beat for the crown with the Milkmen, the Hotdogs and the Realtors their chief rivals.
The Gin Kings and the Phone Pals, however, look unfazed by the odds with both raring to go out, hopeful they can start their own campaigns on a winning note.
Both are determined to redeem themselves from a woeful showing in the Commissioner’s Cup with Ginebra returning with a healthy lineup following the reactivation of main man Jun Limpot from the injured list and Mobiline coming back with a souped up frontcourt lineup on its acquisition of Gabby Cui.
The Gin Kings will be playing their first game since they were bundled out by the Beermen in their Commissioner Cup quarterfinals match-up. Ginebra played then minus Limpot who sustained a pulled groin during the All-Star Game.