Red Bull, P’foods kick off PBA ’05

The PBA is back.

After a three-month respite, the country’s premier pro league re-opens shop today with a promise of a lavish show and an exciting opening match on opening day of its 31st season at the Araneta Coliseum.

Red Bull Barako and Purefoods Chunkees meet in the opening tiff, preceding two-hour inaugural rites highlighted by the appearance of two special guests – boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao and rising star Ray "Boom Boom" Bautista. Newly-crowned World Boxing Council light-flyweight champion Brian Viloria could not make it because of an earlier commitment.

Crowd darling Barangay Ginebra and the highly- fancied Alaska Milk squad clash with Coca-Cola and Sta. Lucia Realty, respectively, in the same venue on Wednesday while Talk n Text, San Miguel Beer and Air21 make their own debuts in the season-opener San Mig Coffee-Fiesta Conference Friday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The PBA is returning to the sporting scene with a bang as, for one, it pits in its opening game two teams which boast of imports considered by various PBA scouts to be the best in their roster.

In Quermont Greer, Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao is hoping to have someone who could fill in the gaping hole in their frontcourt — not much different from what Purefoods mentor Ryan Gregorio is hoping to get from Marquin Chandler.

Curiously, Greer and Chandler are both fresh out of college who both worked out with the Sacramento Kings in the summer camp. Greer is a product of De Paul while Chandler is a San Jose State alumnus.

Greer normed 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds as he powered De Paul — the same school that produced former NBA star Mark Aguirre — to a respectable 17-8 record in his senior year.

"Based on what I’ve seen so far, sa tingin ko may ibubuga `yung import namin. He’s not that flashy but he’s very effective," said Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao.

"He did well in practice. He could be of big help in our campaign," said Gregorio of Chandler coming off a stirring showing in his senior season with the Spartans.

But eyes will also be on several interesting match-ups among local players, including the one between RP pool members Enrico Villanueva and Kerby Raymundo.

With the former four-time league MVP Alvin Patrimonio fully retired, the mantle of leadership at Purefoods has been passed on to Raymundo, who with sophomore pro James Yap, forms what could be the team’s one-two punch.

Villanueva, on the other hand, is forced to take much of the burden for Red Bull with Mick Pennisi and Davonn Harp still working for their possible reinstatement in the league.

Leo Najorda, Larry Fonacier, Paolo Bugia and Celino Cruz are welcome addition to Red Bull and so are Jondan Salvador, Marc Pingris and Roger Yap at Purefoods.

Salvador and Pingris are expected to play key roles at Red Bull right away with veterans Rey Evangelista and Mike Hrabak out on injuries.