PBL Heroes Cup unfolds at DLS-Greenhills

Arwin Santos, Jun Jun Cabatu, JR Quiñahan and Mark Andaya — some of the league’s marquee players — take center stage beginning today as the 2006 PBL Heroes Cup unfurls at the La Salle Greenhills.

Santos, widely-regarded as the country’s finest player in the ranks today, will spearhead Magnolia Dairy Ice Cream’s bid against the Quiñahan-backed Granny Goose Tortillos in the opener a 2 p.m.

Admission is free.

Cabatu, the 6-foot-5 son of former two-time MVP Sonny Cabatu, on the other hand, will be at the forefront of Rain or Shine’s (formerly Welcoat Paints) title campaign starting at 4 p.m. against Toyota Otis, a team backstopped by a pair of 6-foot-7 in Andaya and Joe Calvin Devance.

The opening rites, which will be shown live over Studio 23, start at 1 p.m. with archer Jasmine Figueroa, one of the country’s top gold medal hopefuls for the coming SEA Games, as the guest of honor.

Commissioner Chino Trinidad said the presence of the charming Figueroa, the pride of Balut, Tondo, should be more than enough to challenge and inspire the country’s rising cage stars to work doubly hard to attain the stardom the country’s top archer is enjoying right now.

"Jasmine is one of modern day heroes and I hope the feat she accomplished in the Athens Games will inspire and challenge our players," said Trinidad. "Just like our previous tournaments, the Heroes Cup will be one big event before the SEA Games and I’m sure our loyal fans will have another great time watching our games."

Trinidad’s optimism is understandable.

Aside from the league’s established stars, the league will unveil a bevy of rookies who, given extended minutes, would be as versatile and electrifying as Santos and comebacking star Joseph Yeo of Harbour Centre.

Among the rookies to watch are, of course, Devance, this tournament’s top pick, Harbour’s Marcey Arellano, Red Vicente and Kelvin dela Peña, Hapee-PCU’s 6-foot-8 Francis de Leon and Far Eastern Insurance’s Jay Sierra.

"We have a lot of young players who are ready to challenge the league’s big guns and that makes our coming tournament more exciting," said Trinidad.

The Wizards won their first-ever title after beating Rain or Shine in the 2004 Unity Cup finals but were a huge disappointments the past two conferences. But with a solid and almost intact line-up, the Koy Banal-mentored squad is tagged as the heavy favorite to win the championship this time.

Aside from the 6-foot-4 Santos, the Wizards are boast of having an athletic Fil-Am in 6-foot-7 Kelly Williams and efficient role players like Mark Isip, Gerard Jones, Jason Misolas and Francis Barcellano.

The showdown between Williams and the 6-foot-5 Quiñahan is expected to provide further color to the rivalry of the two teams dating back in the Open

Championship last year. The Snackmasters have also a solid support cast in Jett Latonio, Jam Alfad, Alfie Grijaldo and Abby Santos.

Aside from Cabatu, also expected to shine for Rain or Shine are veterans JR Reyes, Marvin Ortiguerra, Jay

Coching, Erwin Sta. Maria and Paolo Orbeta.

For Toyota Otis, coach Louie Alas is pinning his hopes on point guards JP Alcaraz and Boyet Bautista and an array of wingmen, led by Emerson Oreta, Ardy Larong, Aaron Aban and big men like Dennis Daa, Andaya and Devance.

Sexy actress Jen Rosendahl and the Solid Gold Dancers have been invited to spice up the opening rites.