PBA SEASON 39: ANYBODY’S GAME

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Barangay Ginebra is the top choice, San Mig Coffee and Petron Blaze are dark horses and the rest are all contenders.

This is the general opinion in PBA Season 39 that comes off the wraps in grand inaugurals Sunday tipped to establish new marks on the heels of a record-breaking, blockbuster season.

Ginebra and San Mig face off in an early duel of favorites at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. This alone is a major threat to the all-time single-day gate receipts the league achieved last year – 23,436 in Game Three of the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup finals between Ginebra and Alaska Milk.

Then there are the two separate games in Cebu and in Davao.

Talk n Text opens its title defense in the PLDT MyDsL Philippine Cup versus Meralco at the Cebu Coliseum at 3 p.m. while Commissioner’s Cup titlist Alaska Milk clashes with Rain or Shine at the USEP gym in Davao at 5:15 p.m.

This is an opening-day extravaganza never been done in the long history of Asia’s first play-for-pay cage league. It’s expected to set new records on gate attendance and gate sales for a season opener.

PBA board chairman Mon Segismundo said this is in line with the league’s season theme “One PBA, One Philippines.”

Despite the havoc created by super typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas, commissioner Chito Salud said the opener in Cebu and Davao “is all systems go.”

The league will be in full speed ahead and all the teams are raring to go.

Eighteen rookies, the same number of players with new teams and five league returnees join the traditional parade on opening day.

Much of the attention, however, is on the Ginebra team, the league crowd darling considered a top bet with key acquisitions from the draft and trade market.

Practically all PBA officials pointed to Ginebra as the best bet during the pre-season press conference at the Rizal Room of Makati Shangri-La Wednesday.

“Gusto namin yan, kami ang paborito…kami ang paborito ng fans,” said Ginebra board representative Robert Non, smiling.

“Yes, lumakas kami. But as of now, it’s just on paper. With only three players from the old group (Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Billy Mamaril) we’re a work in progress. Kailangan pa ng team mag-jell,” Non pointed out.

Ginebra’ roster power obviously improved with its acquisition of Greg Slaughter and James Forrester from the draft plus JayR Reyes and Emman Monfort through trades.

Each one was saying though San Mig Coffee, Petron, Talk n Text, Rain or Shine and Alaska Milk are also right there as top tiers.

Globalport is drawing second looks with its own massive buildup while Meralco, Air21 and Barako Bull officials are confident they made right moves to be contenders.

Also present in the media launch were league governors Patrick Gregorio of Talk n Text, Lito Alvarez of Air21, Rene Pardo of San Mig Coffee, Dickie Backmann of Alaska, Mert Mondragon of Rain or Shine, Manny Alvarez of Barako Bull, Erick Arejola of Globalport, and Sports5 director Chot Reyes.

For Reyes, the Gilas Pilipinas coach, the top bets are still those teams who have long been together.

“The game is played not on paper but on the wood. Sa akin, lamang pa rin yong matagal ng magkakasama. There’s Talk n Text and Rain or Shine. San Mig is always tough with coach Tim Cone,” said Reyes. (SB)

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