Beermen open PBA 33rd season versus Express

MACAU – Perennial contender San Miguel Beer and emerging power Air21 are pitted against each other in the opening game of the 33rd PBA season on Oct. 14 at the Araneta Coliseum.

It would be a match that could be spiced up by the return of basketball icon Robert Jaworski, proceeding a grand show to usher in the 2007-08 wars of the country’s premier cage league.

Three weeks before the league opening, Air21 governor and team manager Lito Alvarez still hopes they can lure Jaworski to call the shots for the Express.

Jaworski, who is  in the US, has not given a definite answer on Air21’s offer that apparently includes a business deal with the Lina Group of Companies.

But with or without Jaworski, the league promises a great opening-day spectacle with the wacky duo of Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola as hosts. Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai will lead the invocation.

The PBA board of governors approved the proposed inaugural festivities and opening-week schedule in the second day of its three-day live-in conference here.

The first week of 2007-08 PBA action will also see the league holding games at The Arena in San Juan, the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay and at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center in Dumaguete.

Three Tokushima FIBA Asia championship veterans in Danny Seigle, Dondon Hontiveros and Ranidel de Ocampo return to their mother teams as San Miguel and Air21 clash on the inaugural game.