MANILA, Philippines - Burger King and Purefoods get the honor of ushering the 35th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as they clash in the lone opening game of the Philippine Cup on Oct. 11 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The two teams slug it out at 6:30 p.m., shortly after the traditional colorful opening rites, highlighted by a simple tribute to the late league chairman Tony Chua of Barako Bull.
Burger King will go into the game without star forward Arwind Santos, who was traded to San Miguel. But the Whoppers will parade new acquisitions in Ronjay Buenafe and Chico Lanete.
With No. 2 rookie pick Rico Maierhofer suiting up for Purefoods, the match-up between two of the year’s top rookie picks will not materialize as top overall pick Japeth Aguilar still refused to sign with Burger King.
Along with the lanky, 6-foot-6 center out of De La Salle, Rafi Reavis is the other newcomer in the Giants roster along with returnee Marc Pingris.
Four more teams make their respective debuts on Oct. 14 with Alaska, last year’s season-opening runner-up, taking on Barako Bull in the 5 p.m. curtain-raiser, and defending Fiesta Cup champion San Miguel battling Barangay Ginebra in a rematch of last year’s finals.
Along with fellow off-season recruit Denok Miranda, Santos sees action for the Beermen for the first time this season. The 7:30 p.m. encounter also marks the possible return from active roster of Kings’ main man Mark Caguioa and new teammates Enrico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez, Paolo Bugia and Celino Cruz.
A triple-bill, meanwhile, is in store for basketball fans on Oct. 16 at the Astrodome as the RP-Smart Gilas team of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman makes its first appearance in the league opposite the Whoppers of Powerade-Team Pilipinas mentor Yeng Guiao at 2:30 p.m.