Petron, RoS start campaign

MANILA, Philippines - Petron Blaze and Rain or Shine, two teams which narrowly missed the Philippine Cup finals, plunge back into action tonight, tangling with Barangay Ginebra and Alaska Milk, respectively, to start their campaigns in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Boosters and the Elasto Painters are hopeful of a lift from their imports that can bring them all the way to the finals this time.

Petron bowed to Talk n Text while Rain or Shine was beaten by Powerade in a double knockout capping the epic all-Filipino best-of-seven semifinals. The Texters went on to beat the Tigers in five games in the titular series.

The Boosters are leaning on 6-foot-11 Nicholas Ryan Fazekas for help to improve their third-place finish in the first conference. The Elasto Painters, meanwhile, bank on 6-foot-7 Willard Duke Crews.

Fazekas will be up against Ginebra’s old hand Chris Alexander while Crews is pitted against another PBA returnee Adam Parada in their PBA debut.

The Petron import possesses impressive credentials including the distinction of being one of only six players in US NCAA history to score 2,000 points, grab 1,000 rebounds, shoot 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line. The others were Rick Barry, Larry Bird, Christian Laettner and Keith Van Horn.

The former University of Nevada-Reno stalwart was drafted at 34th overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 NBA draft. He also played for the LA Clippers later.

In need of added firepower, the Elasto Painters opted for real talent than size in signing up Crews, the shortest among all 10 imports.

An All-American in high school, Crews had a one-year stint with University of Tennessee before moving over to Bowie State. He’s a vital cog in Tennessee’s run to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2007.

At Bowie State, Crews performed well enough in his final two years of college to become an NBA prospect.

Crews and the Elasto Painters open their Commissioner’s Cup campaign versus an Alaska side badly beaten by Barako Bull in the tournament opener Friday also at the Big Dome.

Willie Miller sparkled for 25 points and Dermarr Johnson had solid all-around numbers as the Energy overwhelmed the Aces, 98-78.

The Aces have lost their last five games dating back to the Philippine Cup.

The Kings, meanwhile, are back in action after being eased out by the Elasto Painters in their Philippine Cup quarterfinals showdown.

Going with the Kings in the mid-season tourney is their familiarity with their import. Alexander, 31, gave Ginebra its last championship during the 2007-08 season, averaging 20 points, 20 rebounds per game.