Curtains rise on 28th PBA season

It’s showtime.

After a two-month break, the Philippine Basketball Association returns to the scene, definitely looking brighter and better although the league departs from tradition while embarking on another mission for flag and country.

Leading the pursuit for the coveted gold medal in the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, the PBA teems with Asiad cause ingredients as it unwraps its 28th season at the Araneta Coliseum today.

An elaborate opening ceremony with "Higante" — depicting the stature of the league in the country and in Asia — as theme ushers in hostilities in the season starting at 4 p.m.

Opening game pits the league’s two new kids on the block — Coca-Cola and Airfreight 2100 FedEx — at 5:30 p.m.

Singer-composer Joey Ayala will give a production number while Ana Fegi and Janine Desiderio take turns in belting out their respective versions of "Bigay Todo" – the league’s theme song. Pia Guanio (Alaska Milk), LJ Moreno (Shell), Rica Peralejo (Barangay Ginebra) and sisters Assunta and Alessandra de Rossi (Red Bull) are among the muses.

Twenty-seven rookies, 20 imports, the 10 regular PBA teams and the two Philippine candidates teams will be in showcase as the 2002 PBA season unwraps beginning with the Samsung Governors Cup.

Meanwhile, Burger King is launching Whopper Time via a promotional campaign in the tournament. One whopper burger sandwich will be given away to every paid ticket every time any team scores more than 75 points in their game.

Tournament format calls for the 12 teams to play one round robin with the top eight advancing to the quarterfinals. As usual, the top four enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage against their separate match-ups in the Final Eight.

Looming as the favorites to contest the crown are the two RP candidates teams, Barangay Ginebra, Purefoods and Shell.

Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes said the opening game could be a barometer of their performance in the league.

"We’ll learn a lot of things there. We’ll see how we cope with pressure," Reyes said.

Introduced to the media Friday at Shangri-La Hotel in Makati, the Coca-Cola Tigers vow to work and play like "CHAMP" and, in doing so, they’re hopeful victories will come by, giving them a worthy campaign in their maiden PBA tournament even minus their star players.

Reyes said CHAMP is their motto and this stands for commitment, hard work, attitude, mental toughness and passion which they intend to put in their game.

"As we loaned five players to the national team, many we’re saying what’s left of Coca Cola is a collection of nondescript players. They may be right but we promise no team will work harder and play tougher than us," said Reyes.

"We’re not in a business of making predictions but we’re committing ourselves to always come out with efforts making the Coca Cola management proud of us. We may not win the championship but we’ll lead the league in floor burns, in looseball recoveries and other hustle plays," he added.

Making up the Coca Cola team which took over Pop Cola are Freddie Abuda, William Antonio, Estong Ballesteros, Lowell Briones, Allan Gamboa, Chris Bolado, Ato Morano, Leonides Avenido, Jason Misolas, Gilbert Lao, Jojo Manalo and imports Rossell Ellis and Fred Williams.

Against Air 2100/FedEx, the Tigers will be ranged against Zaldy Realubit, Jerry Codinera, Gido Babilonia, Oscar Simon, David Friedhof, Wynne Arboleda, Dindo Pumaren, Ryan Bernardo, Yancy de Ocampo, Bong Alvarez and imports Rodrick Rhodes and Jarmaine Walker.

FedEx coach Derick Pumaren said his boys are now ready to play although they only started working out with a complete lineup last Saturday with the arrival of De Ocampo.

Even before playing their first game in the PBA, the Express has lost one key player in Danilo Capobres who suffered a torn calf muscle in practice.