MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Cup runner-up Alaska Milk and NLEX, with its highly touted import Al Thornton, finally make their PBA Commissioner’s Cup debuts, taking on Purefoods Star and Rain or Shine, respectively, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
The Road Warriors and the Elasto Painters slug it out at 4:15 p.m. then the Aces and the Hotshots square off at 7 p.m. in the first playdate of the mid-season tourney at the Big Dome.
“It will be very tough for us. Purefoods is a great team coming off a conference they’re not satisfied with. They have the winningest coach with an import who knows their system and players in and out,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton, expecting a tough test in its first game after finishing second to San Miguel Beer in the recent all-Filipino tourney.
Purefoods coach Tim Cone feels the same way though.
“It’s always tougher to play the runners-up than the champions. The runners-up are still always motivated going into the next conference,” said Cone. “We expect Alaska to come out firing on all cylinders and we’re bracing for a tough, tough game.”
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, meanwhile, believes they have an advantage versus NLEX with import Rick Jackson in tow.
“Asi Taulava will also have his matchup against Rick Jackson which solves our perennial matchup problem. The question that needs to be answered is can we match our locals against their import,” said Guiao.
NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez is thankful with their stint in a Dubai international tourney, saying it helped get Thornton into shape.
“He’s not in shape in Dubai. He’s quite in it now and I expect him to help our team in scoring,” said Fernandez of the 14th pick overall in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Though missing the Philippine Cup crown by a game, the Aces insist they’re the underdogs against the Hotshots.
But the Aces could really be in for a tough night if Blakely and his teammates’ form against the Globalport Batang Pier Friday would be any indication.
Blakely started the game swatting away the first field goal attempts of Globalport import CJ Leslie, and the one-time Governors Cup Best Import awardee went on to dominate the game, leading the Hotshots to an 83-70 win over the Batang Pier.
Meanwhile, Dorian Pena, an import defender who is just back from injury, is reportedly now on his way to Barangay Ginebra from Barako Bull.
According to report, part of the three-deal deal is JayR Reyes transferring from Ginebra to San Miguel and Justin Chua jumping from SMB to Barako.