E-Painters, Hotshots clash in PBA opener

Game on Oct. 18 (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3 p.m. – Opening ceremonies

5:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Star Hotshots

MANILA, Philippines - The 41st PBA season, the first under commissioner Chito Narvasa, finally comes off the wraps on Oct. 18, pitting Rain or Shine against Star Hotshots in a lone game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Elasto Painters and the Hotshots, twice titular protagonists in 2014, clash at 5:15 p.m. in the first match of the season, which promises more exciting games with emphasis given to talent and strategy.

Barako Bull and Mahindra face off at 4:15 p.m. then Barangay Ginebra and Meralco square off at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the MOA Arena –  the first regular double-header in the league that is back to basics in terms of officiating.

“We’re back to playing the game of basketball as we learned it while growing up,” said Narvasa, the ninth PBA commissioner after Leo Prieto, Mariano Yenko, Rudy Salud, Rey Marquez, Jun Bernardino, Noli Eala, Sonny Barrios and Chito Salud.

Under the new rules, excessive physicality (wrestling), holding, pulling of jersey and shorts and advantage fouls automatically earn a whistle.

“Play the ball and not the man. That’s basically what we’re trying to tell the players,” Narvasa said. “Once everybody gets used to it, games will be fast-paced. The players who perform well and the coach with the brilliant game plan will win in the end.”

Blackwater takes on NLEX at 4:15 p.m. then Talk n Text tackles Alaska at 7 p.m. in the first twinbill at the Big Dome on Oct. 23. It will be followed by the season’s first road game in Davao on Oct. 24, pitting San Miguel Beer against Globalport.

By then, all 12 teams have played a game in the season featuring a sprinkle of rookies led by top draft picks Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario.

Taking the spotlight on opening day are Rain or Shine with No. 3 draft selection Maverick Ahanmisi and the Star Hotshots with new recruits Jake Pascual and Ronald Pascual under new coach Jason Webb.

The Hotshots will be out to redeem themselves from their 2014-15 decline after their grand slam run in the previous season.

Ian Sangalang will be back from a long layoff due to an ACL surgery, rejoining old mainstays James Yap, Marc Pingris, PJ Simon, Mark Barroca, Rafi Reavis, Allein Maliksi, Alex Mallari, Yousef Taha, Justin Melton, Jerwin Gaco and Lester Alvarez.

Rain or Shine, the only team to make the semifinals of all three seasons last year, will be back with its old nucleus including Paul Lee, Jeff Chan, Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan, Gabe Norwood, Jireh Ibañes, Chris Tiu, JR Quiñahan, Jeric Teng and Jericho Cruz.

Jewel Ponferada is a trade acquisition for Jervy Cruz.

TY Tang has retired while Ryan Araña has been traded to San Miguel Beer for a future pick.

Coach Yeng Guiao and his RoS squad remained a consistent contender last year, ending up with a second-best cumulative 35-20 win-loss mark, behind San Miguel (37-17).

The Star Hotshots, with hardly a rest from their long grand slam season, struggled with 27 wins against 20 losses last campaign. They’re fifth behind San Miguel, Rain or Shine, Alaska (35-23) and Talk n Text (35-24).

The Hotshots are trying a new system under Webb, with Tim Cone having moved over to the Barangay Ginebra Kings.