Focus on Bulls; Tigers, Aces seek solo lead

Newly crowned Fiesta Cup champion Red Bull starts its quest for a double-championship in the 2005-06 PBA season by taking on San Miguel Beer at the Araneta Coliseum today.

James Penny is gone but the Bulls remain loaded at the frontcourt with the 7-foot-1 giant EJ Feihl back in active duty and the 6-foot-4 versatile forward Rich Alvarez suiting up for the Bulls.

With only pointguard Jimwell Torion out from the team’s previous lineup, coach Yeng Guiao saw no need to make significant changes or adjustments in his plays and patterns.

"EJ has been with us for so long he’s familiar with our game. Only Rich Alvarez will have to make some adjustments," said Guiao.

Guiao and his Bulls, fresh from their conquest of the Purefoods Chunkee Giants for the Fiesta Cup championship, begin their chase of the All-Filipino crown against the Beermen at 7:35 p.m.

The Beermen were off to a poor start in the tourney, bowing to the Alaska Milk Aces, 103-90, on opening day Sunday also at the Big Dome.

Alaska and Coca-Cola dispute the early solo lead in the tourney as they clash in today’s other game at 4:40 p.m. The Tigers, the tail-enders in the first conference, got off to an auspicious start in the All-Filipino with a 103-84 whipping of the Air21 Express.

However, much of the attention is likely to be on the Bulls as they make their first appearance after topping the Fiesta Cup.

The Photokina Marketing franchise has become even more exciting to watch following its acquisition of Alvarez from Alaska in exchange for a pair of future draft picks.

Alvarez plays again with fellow Ateneo Blue Eagles Enrico Villanueva, Larry Fonacier and Paolo Bugia, Curiously on the other side of the court today is another former Blue Eagle in Wesley Gonzales.

San Miguel effected a minor revamp in its lineup following a mediocre showing in the last tourney.

Aside from Gonzales, the Beermen also recruited Brandon Cablay, Migs Noble and Mark Kong.