The reigning Paint Masters remain the most dominant team in the league with its intact powerhouse cast gunning for a fourth consecutive crown in the PBL Challenge Cup kicking off this Saturday at the Makati Coliseum.
The old formidable lineup led by Ren-Ren Ritualo, Jojo Manalo, Anton Villoria, Francis Zamora and 6-foot-8 Yancy de Ocampo is further boosted with the return of Ateneo Blue Eagle Ryan Pamintuan.
Coach Junel Baculi also recruited equally talented Bob Ilanga, a former Davao Eagle reserve, as third pointguard to Eugene Tan and Celino Cruz in place of Tonichi Pinzon who migrated to the US.
Adding depth to the bench of this Raymond Yu and Terry Que-owned franchise are Brandon Sison, Allen Patrimonio, skipper Cali John Orfrecio, Eric Canlas, Ferdie Go, and Jerome Reyes.
A fourth straight title would equal the legendary feat of Tanduay Rhummasters and firm up Welcoat’s dynasty in the PBL.
The Rhummasters, who posted the first PBL grand slam in 1995 PBL season, also copped PBL’s first four-peat crown after clinching the 1996 third conference crown, the 1997 season against defunct Springmaid and Red Bull, and the 1998 Yakult-PBL Centennial Cup against AgfaColor.
"We know that the battlecry of every other team is to stop Welcoat. But when they say stop Welcoat, they should make sure they have the right weapons like we do," said Baculi.
He added that Zamora made the biggest improvement during the off-season, while the comeback of Pamintuan gave him more flexibility on the rotation of big men. Likewise, Sison can now play 100 percent after recovering from an ACL.