Top teams test mettle in PBL opener

Three top PBL teams — Welcoat Paints, Blu Detergent and Ana Freezers — will test three equally-strong commercial teams when the first PBL Open Invitational unwraps tomorrow at the Makati Coliseum.

Welcoat Paints collides with Spring Cooking Oil in the main encounter at 6 p.m. while Blu Detergent clashes with the young but fast Sureshot Sports Management at 4 p.m.

Ana Freezers, on the other hand, will battle the Pampanga Selection of coach Allan Trinidad at 2 p.m.

A short and simple opening ceremony will commence the affair to be graced by PBL board chairman Dioceldo Sy and commissioner Chino Trinidad.

The Paint Masters will be playing in full force, led by 6’9 Yancy de Ocampo, Ren-Ren Ritualo and Jojo Manalo who steered the team to a 4-0 sweep at the PBL Chairman’s Cup against Shark Energy Drink.

But Spring Cooking Oil will be a big challenge for Welcoat, having former PBA import Bobby Parks and erstwhile Shark Fil-Am Joshua Lambert aside from three big men — 6’5 Guiness Nabung, 6’4 Mike Buendia and former San Juan Knight Cisco Pacheco.

Beefing up the team are ex-pros Carlo Espiritu and Rene Alforque, wingman Rodel Manuel and hardworking pointguard Mario Reyes.

Blu Detergent will also parade its intact line-up led by Egay Billiones, Edwin Bacani and Marlon Legaspi but Sureshot Sports Management boasts of talented young guys — UST’s Derrick Hubalde, Jhembel Gican, Michael Piodo, Efren Valdez, ex-pro Joselito Aguilar and Billy Mamaril, the 6’6 son of former PBA veteran Romulo Mamaril.

Pampanga Selection also poses a big threat with PYBL veterans Arwind Santos, Jay Sierra, Marlon Tadeo, Rudy Espino and Alfie Grijaldo aside from ex-pro Eric Gascon and three six-foot-five cagers — Randy Magpayo, Rey Mendoza and Banjo Cruz