The talk in the barber shop heats up. The barber shaving Customer No. 2 (refer to yesterday’s column) insists his favorite club, Alaska, will do it. After all, the Aces played in two of three finals last year. Never mind if they were bridesmaids twice over. The barber reasons that with five new faces (Mike Cortez, Brandon Cablay, Eugene Tejada, Stephen Padilla and Don Camaso), Alaska got better. No more holes in the roster, he says. To think, with a lineup that wasn’t as strong last year, Alaska already made it to two finals. Now, the pieces are in place.
But wait, interferes another barber. "Basta ako, Barangay Ginebra," he declares. "Bilib ako kay coach Allan (Caidic). Magaling dumiskarte. Kulang lang sa player last year kaya ‘di nakaangat ang Ginebra. Ngayon, okay na sila–buo na, sa wakas. But win or lose, Ginebra pa rin ako."
The diehard points to Ginebra’s souped-up cast this season as the basis for his optimism. Romel Adducul, Rob Johnson and Sunday Salvacion came in from the draft. Alex Crisano and Elmer Lago are back from Talk ‘N’ Text and Aris Dimaunahan, Ginebra’s third round pick last year, squeezed into the lineup after impressing in offseason tryouts. The holdovers are a scrappy bunch–Jun Limpot, Mark Caguioa, Eric Menk, Banjo Calpito, Bal David, and Gilbert Malabanan.
"Lumakas ang Ginebra on all fronts," notes Customer No. 1 whose hair is being clipped by the diehard. "Boto rin ako sa Ginebra. They beefed up their frontline and backcourt. Sa preseason exhibitions, wala silang talo in four games. May experience, may young blood, may shooting sa labas, may tira sa loob. Malaking bagay si Adducul but I think Johnson will play a big role in the turnaround."
The barber chimes in, "Isa pa, nakuha nila si Binky Favis as assistant coach. Ang balita, si Favis daw ang No. 1 scout sa PBA–magaling mag-breakdown ng offense at defense, magaling sa homework. ‘Yung diskarte ni coach Allan sa game adjustments, okay na okay. May tulong pa siya ngayon kay Favis."
From the far end of the barber shop hollers a customer waiting for his turn in the chair. "Mahihirapan ang Ginebra this year kasi too many new players," he says. "Baka, one or two years away from a title pa sila. Sa tingin ko, Red Bull ang top contender. Intact ang lineup nila at isa lang ang bago–si Rico Villanueva pa. ‘Yan ang matindi. Sa All-Filipino, walang tatalo sa frontline ng Red Bull–DaVonn Harp, Mick Pennisi, Nelson Asaytono, Homer Se, at Villanueva. Ang laki ng improvement ni Se at si Asaytono, almost nawala siya kanya ipapakita niya na he can still play in the PBA. Si Willie Miller will be even better with more experience and maturity–MVP na nga siya. Mayroon pa silang Junthy Valenzuela, Lordy Tugade, Jimwell Torion, Edmund Reyes at Vince Hizon. Kumpleto sila."
There’s a hush in the barber shop. The barbers who picked Alaska and Ginebra are quiet. So is Customer No. 1 who’s a San Miguel Beer fan. "Oo nga," they chorus. "May point nga si pare. Mukhang favorite ang Red Bull kasi intact sila, may championship experience, may Villanueva pa."
Then, a voice blurts out. Another barber has an opinion. "Ako, nationalistic, kaya ang boto ko either FedEx or Sta. Lucia Realty kasi walang Fil-foreigner sila, talagang All-Filipino," he says. "Walang miscommunication. ‘Di na dapat mag-English ‘yung coaching staff."
FedEx brought in five new players–Gherome Ejercito, Omanzie Rodriguez, Marvin Ortiguerra, Roger Yap and rookie John Ferriols–to team up with mainstays Wynne Arboleda, Edgar Billones, Vergel Meneses, Yancy de Ocampo, Ryan Bernardo and Jerry Codinera.
"Si Arboleda, he’ll take charge of the team–parang Onchie de la Cruz, rugged, tough, matapang," says the barber. "Wala na kasi si Dindo Pumaren. Kung may (Dennis) Espino at (Marlou) Aquino ang Sta. Lucia, may Yancy at Ferriols ang FedEx. Twin Towers din ang dating."
As for the Realtors, coach Alfrancis Chua took in Jason Webb, Allan Yu, Jomar Tierra, Wilmer Ong, Kenneth Duremdes, Paeng Santos and Leo Bat-og to join holdovers Espino, Aquino, Paolo Mendoza, Francis Adriano, Gerard Francisco, Chris Tan and Chito Victolero.
"Tama na kayo," says a customer in a barber’s chair. "Kay Alvin (Patrimonio) pa rin ako. Kung saan siya, nandoon ako. Kaya, Purefoods ang aking team. May (Noy) Castillo, (Andy) Seigle, (Boyet) Fernandez at (Rey) Evangelista siyang kasama. Tapos, nakuha pa nila si (Billy) Mamaril, (Ibet) Demape, at (Rodney) Santos. Si coach Ryan (Gregorio), nakatikim na ng championship last year. Makakatikim na naman siya ng isa this year."
Then, a customer, in between sips of a can of Coca-Cola Light, stands up to state his case. "I’m for the Tigers," he says. "They’re the defending champions, after all. Okay, so Johnny (Abarrientos) and Freddie (Abuda) are in the injured list. After five games, pwede na silang maglaro. Even without them, competitive pa sila with Jeffrey Cariaso, Poch Juinio, Rudy Hatfield, Ato Morano, Rafi Reavis, Leo Avenido at Will Antonio. I heard rookies Reynel Hugnatan and Jec Chia are good, too. Leave it to coach Chot (Reyes). Coca-Cola will be tough to beat."
So who’s the consensus title favorite? The barbers and customers couldn’t agree. That’s why there’s so much interest in the PBA this year. Every game looks like a toss-up.