Focus on vets, college stars as PBL unwraps

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball League unwraps its new season today with a promise of high-powered action among the league veterans and the top collegiate stars in the PG Flex-Erase Placenta Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

Except for Ascof Lagundi of Pascual Laboratories, the three other teams seeing action in the season-opening tournament are made up of stars from various collegiate leagues, thus guaranteeing torrid action right from the opening buzzer.

“There are a lot of exciting players out there, even the rookies are expected to make an impression,” said PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad.

After a 20-minute opening ceremony, Ascof Lagundi (formerly Pharex), which lost to Oracle Residences (Harbour Centre franchise) in last year’s Unity Cup title series, battles Excel Roof, a team built around the core of NCAA champion San Sebastian College.

Clashing in the second game at 4 p.m. are Fern-C and Cossack Blue, spearheaded by the University of the East Warriors. Games will be aired on Basketball TV starting at 3:30 p.m.

PBL chairman Ding Camua, deputy commissioner Tommy Ong and executive director Butch Maniego will grace the opener while San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito has been invited to do the ceremonial toss. He will be assisted by Camua, the board representative of Pascual Lab.

Cobra’s Paul Lee and Fern-C’s John Wilson will lead the Oath of Sportsmanship.

Aside from Ascof Lagundi, also tipped to contend for the crown is Cobra Energy Drink, led by last year’s top rookie Paul Lee and Parri Llagas, former UAAP scoring champion Patrick Cabahug and Ateneo star Jai Reyes.

Cobra will debut against AddMix on Thursday while Pharex-B, the second team of Pascual Laboratories in the league, battles the Ani-FCA Cultivators in the tournament backed by UK Derm, Spalding, Accel, Izod and Van Heusen, Burlington, Gold’s Gym, Fern-C, Gatorade, Extreme Magic Sing, The Filipino Channel, Business World and NU 107.