PBA in rare show of unity; SMB, Ginebra, TNT favored

PUTTING its dilemmas aside for this time being, the Philippine Basketball Association will indeed push through with its opening for the 43rd season this coming Sunday.

In a rare show of unity, the PBA Board of Governors finally came together, despite doubts, to affirm that the season-opening Philippine Cup will indeed go on as scheduled on Dec. 17, during Wednesday’s official press conference at the Okada Hotel in Pasay City for the coming season.

“Hindi puwedeng mawala ang PBA sa Pilipino, or ang Pilipino mawala sa PBA. That’s why we’re all here. We’re a very solid group at this point,” outgoing PBA Chairman Rep. Mikee Romero of GlobalPort told the media in a press conference at Okada in Parañaque. “The problems that we have, we will deal with it internally, within ourselves, within the 12 of us. As we told you, this Sunday, what we should be watching are the players, the superstars of Philippine basketball. (The PBA has been here for) 43 years. Ang masasabi ko lang, let the games begin.”

Incoming PBA chairman Ramoncito Fernandez, on the other hand, promised another banner year for Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

“There are a lot of plans. But definitely, what the board can promise its fans is that we will have an exciting year. We’ll continue to make the PBA relevant to the Filipinos,” said Fernandez.

The league did not discuss the impasse involving Commissioner Chito Narvasa’s tenure.

But the governors aired their insights heading to the fresh season ahead.

For most of them, the consensus teams to beat for the All-Filipino conference aren’t hard to identify.

Perennial contenders San Miguel Beer, the three-time defending champion, Barangay Ginebra and TNT KaTropa, who are all usual semifinalists at the very least, are once again considered the teams to beat.

Obviously, the Beermen are once again considered the heavy favorites given their championship core of four-time reigning Most Valuable Player June mar Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross and Arwind Santos is very much intact.

San Miguel Beer will begin its title defense right away in the initial game of the season this Sunday against retooled Phoenix at 6:30 p.m.

Not far behind, many are also seeing the Gin Kings, the Governors’ Cup champions, as a heavy contender with their likewise intact and loaded roster.

The Tropang Texters are likewise in the mix of the mentioned top teams.

On the other hand, teams like Alaska, Meralco, Star and NLEX are mentioned as the most dangerous as any of them can be a dark horse.

Meanwhile, the teams also revealed who their muses will be during the colorful opening ceremonies.

Kia will have Phoem Baranda; NLEX, Rachel Anne Daquis; SMB, Jodie Tarasek; Blackwater, Ashley Ortega; Barangay Ginebra, Myrtle Sarrosa; Phoenix, Rhian Ramos; GlobalPort, Hillarie Parungao —@GlobalportPH; and TNT, Luara Lehmann.