Pop Cola PBL force to reckon with

A newcomer but definitely not a pushover.

That’s how PBL Commissioner Chino Trinidad described Pop Cola when it debuts in the 2003 Second Conference starting next month.

"Considering the legacy of its sister teams in the PBA, especially the Coca Cola Tigers, I’m sure they’re going to be a force to reckon with right in their first outing in the league," said Trinidad. "They’re going to pull some surprises."

And like the Tigers who ruled the PBA Third Conference right in their first season last year, Pop Cola is also aching to make a statement no matter how great the odds are.

In a meeting last Aug. 20, the board unanimously approved San Miguel’s request to field one more team in the PBL. Pop Cola is actually the second team of San Miguel Corporation in the league since it also owns the franchise of Viva Mineral Water — a losing finalist in Sunkist Unity Cup last June. Hapee Toothpaste topped that tournament.

Viva, built around the main core of the FEU Tamaraws, got tremendous exposure and treatment in the last conference and this prompted San Miguel officials to add one more team in the league.

Pop Cola is fortunate enough to acquire the rights of some players from the now-defunct LBC team, making them an instant title contender in the league.

Considering the experience and wizardly of Alex Compton, the red-hot shooting of Ralph Riviera and plus an array of exciting players, the Panthers are certainly a serious threat to the title-retention bid of Welcoat. Other teams participating in the coming conference are Montana Pawnshop, Nutri-Licious, Blu Star Powder and ICTSI.

Aside from Compton and Riviera, the other players acquired by the Panthers from LBC were Al Magpayo, Nicole Uy, Harold Staq, Cruz, Ricky Calimag, Ronald Capati, Froilan Baguion and Joe Dominguez.