EXPLOSIVE COMM’S CUP OPENING WEEK
Two of the teams involved in the most recent blockbuster trade will unveil their new recruits when the eliminations of the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup rolls off March 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Fresh acquisition Jonas Villanueva will make his debut for Air21 together with import Herve Lamizana, a product from Rutgers University as the Express battle the new-look GlobalPort squad in the opening game on March 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Pido Jarencio, a 16-year PBA veteran gunner, will now call the shots for the Batang Pier after sitting at the UST sidelines for the last eight years.
He will not be the lone new face at GlobalPort. Wearing the Batang Pier threads for the first time are backcourtmen Alex Cabagnot and Bonbon Custodio with former Barako Bull import Evan Brock manning the slot.
The 5:45 p.m. Air21-GlobalPort tiff will be followed by the game between defending champion Alaska Aces and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters at 8 p.m.
Last year’s Best Import Rob Dozier will once again suit up for the red-and-whites, while Richard Howell will reinforce the Tropang Texters for the second conference.
The opening week of the Commissioner’s Cup is shaping up to be an exciting one, as the revived San Miguel Beermen take to the court on Friday, March 7 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But it would be an interesting return for the franchise name as the team crosses paths with an old friend, two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso, who saw his heydays wearing the Beermen jerseys, and is now playing for the Meralco Bolts.
Ildefonso and his former protege, the 2014 Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo, is once again expected to do battle in the paint as Meralco and San Miguel play at 5:45 p.m., followed by the Barako Bull – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel matchup at 8 p.m.
Two days later, Philippine Cup finalist Rain or Shine will play its first game of the conference with Alex McLean, facing Barako Bull at the Smart Araneta Coliseum 3 p.m. on March 9.
That first Sunday offering is also expected to draw a monster crowd, as finally, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Greg Slaughter and San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo meet for the first time in their professional careers when the Kings and Beermen square off in the second game at 5:15 p.m.
The much awaited showdown between the two Cebuano giants will finally happen after their Christmas duel was shelved when The Kraken suffered a sprained ACL days before their much-awaited clash.
San Mig Super Coffee, the other finalist in the Commissioner’s Cup, will play their first game on March 12, as they feature their 6-foot-9 reinforcement James Mays in their game against GlobalPort.
The 2014 PBA All-Star Weekend will be played midway through the elims, with the stars strutting their stuff from April 3 to 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena. (RL)
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