PBL opener pits Oracle vs Licealiz

MANILA, Philippines - Two of the three teams with new names take the spotlight on April 14 when they slug it out in the opening of the 2009 PBL PG Flex Unity Cup at the San Juan gym.

Oracle, out to keep the winning tradition of sister team Harbour Centre, takes on Licealiz (formerly Hapee Toothpaste) in the 4 p.m. main game of a twinbill tipped to cap the explosive opening day of the country’s premier amateur basketball league.

The 2 p.m. encounter between last conference finalist Magnolia Purewater and Pharex also promises to be a tight match with both teams beefing up their respective rosters in the season-ending tournament.

Harbour Centre, the flagship company of PBL chairman Mikee Romero which has dominated the league the last few years, was officially retired two months ago after annexing its sixth straight championship.

Coaches and team predict that this conference’s race for the championship will be a lot more interesting.

Even Romero admits that it’s going to be a tough climb for his team this time, saying: “There will be no room for complacency this time since all teams are very strong.”

PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad said the format that rewards the top three finishers after the double-round elimination outright semis berths will only make each game more exciting.

“That’s the beauty of the format that we’re going to use this conference, every game counts this time,” said Trinidad.

The last two placers after the elims will face each other in a best-of-three quarterfinal series. The No. 1 team, on the other hand, can choose its semifinal opponent among the third, fourth and fifth-placed teams after the classification round.

Cobra, composed mostly of star players from University of the East, sees action on Thursday against Oracle. The Lawrence Chongson-mentored squad was the tournament’s biggest revelation last conference after barging into the semis for the first time.