Sans stars, wide-open race looms"in Fiesta Cup

Coaches and PBA watchers predict a wide-open battle for the Fiesta Cup championship in the absence of members of the national team.

The consensus is that Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel Beer and Talk n Text, the top three teams in the recent Philippine Cup, have lost their advantage in manpower, opening the door to a more balanced competition in the season-ending tourney kicking off Sunday at the Astrodome.

Red Bull and Purefoods enjoy the slight edge as they plunge into action towing tested imports in James Penny and Marquin Chandler, respectively.

Sta. Lucia and Air21 are considered the dark horses with the Realtors playing with an intact lineup and the Express also bringing back an old reliable import in Shawn Daniels.

"It’s wide open and it’s hard to say who’s the favorite. So much depends on the imports," said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

"It’s going to be a balanced field. Sta. Lucia, Air21, Coca-Cola and Alaska will now be on equal footing with San Miguel, Purefoods, Talk n Text, Ginebra and Red Bull. Only Welcoat will be the clear underdog," said Red Bull mentor Yeng Guiao.

Talk n Text, Ginebra and San Miguel were the hardest hit by league decision to pull out the Nationals from their mother teams in the Fiesta Cup. The Pals lost Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag and Renren Ritualo, the Kings gave up Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Rudy Hatfield while the Beermen loaned Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros.

Welcoat coach Leo Austria, however, insisted these three teams should not be counted out. "San Miguel’s big men remain intact and it’s still a potent team, Ginebra is reactivating able players to fill in the shoes of their national players, the same goes with Talk n Text," said Austria. – Nelson Beltran