Spinners No. 1 in coaches list

Owing to an intact lineup and the improbable feat by which they won their last championship, the Magnolia Spinners remain to be the team to beat in the 2006 PBL Unity Cup that begins this Saturday at the San Andres gym in Malate.

At least two of the three coaches present in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the main function room of the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila are of the same opinion that the Spinners are undoubtedly favored to win the season-ending tournament.

Former league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Arwind Santos, Jeffrey Chan, Kelly Williams and the rest of the Magnolia bunch are back for another tour of duty in a bid to win back-to-back titles.

The same cast, then carrying the Wizards monicker, rallied from a 0-2 Finals deficit to trounce Rain or Shine for the PBL Heroes Cup crown.

"We have to give it to Magnolia. Buo pa rin ‘yung core nila and siyempre, you can’t set aside their championship experience," said new Rain or Shine mentor Leo Austria.

"Magnolia pa rin siyempre, although we’re ready to give them a good fight. Let’s just wait and see," added Hapee Toothpaste coach Junel Baculi.

Owing to their pressing commitments, Harbour Centre coach Jorge Gallent and Granny Goose assistant mentor Robert Sison failed to attend the forum, but likewise agreed that Magnolia is the conference’s top team.

Spinners coach Koy Banal acknowledged the team’s ability to keep the core of its champion team will serve them in good stead.

"Why fix it when it ain’t broke. We won with these players around, so why change a winning formula," said Banal.

But he did mention Rain or Shine and Hapee Toothpaste as among the squads he expected to give the Spinners a run for their money."