Red Bull, Alaska open PBA season in Guam

GUAM — The Philippine Basketball Association opens another chapter in its storied history today, kicking off hostilities in its 32nd season miles away from home with Red Bull and Alaska Milk clashing at the University of Guam Fieldhouse here.

Game time is at 7:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. in Manila where basketball fans are keenly awaiting the opening ceremonies Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The PBA is bringing cheers and excitement to the Filipino community here as it did to overseas Filipino workers in its first two forays abroad — the first in Indonesia last year and the second in Hong Kong early this year.

Several PBA teams, including Alaska, have played in a number of invitational tournaments in this tiny US territory in the 90s, but it’s the first time the local pro league is holding an official PBA game here.

The Aces arrived here at dawn Tuesday. The Bulls came in two batches with the first group setting foot in Guam Tuesday and the other early yesterday.

Both teams are looking forward to having a good start in the tourney where the Purefoods Chunkee Giants are the defending champions.

The Aces are confident they can improve on their second runner-up finish in the last Philippine Cup as they emerged champions in the pre-season series with a five-game sweep.

PBA watchers consider Alaska among the teams to beat in the tourney, observing that Nic Belasco, Tony dela Cruz, Willie Miller and John Ferriols have fully adjusted to coach Tim Cone’s system.

"Belasco, Miller and Tony dela Cruz appear to have jelled with Alaska’s old players already," noted Ginebra team manager Allan Caidic in their duel in the pre-season series. The Aces whipped the Kings.

The Bulls hardly have a problem in that aspect as they are familiar with coach Yeng Guiao’s scheme of things.

Guiao opted to keep intact his team that placed runner-up to Purefoods in the last All-Filipino tourney. The Bulls picked Magnum Membrere in the second round of the recent draft pick but couldn’t find room for the former Ateneo player.

The Bulls also did well in the pre-season series, narrowly missing a shot at the championship after a close defeat to the San Miguel Beermen in their final game in the elims. They won their first three games against Talk n Text, Sta. Lucia Realty and Coca-Cola.

"The team is in good shape. We’ll give the opposition a good fight," said Red Bull team manager Tony Chua.

After recruiting five new players last year, the Aces continued to overhaul their lineup by reacquiring old mainstay Poch Juinio and enlisting rookies Christian Luanzon and Aaron Aban. The latter has been put on the reserve list, though.

Completing Alaska’s lineup are Belasco, Thoss, Eddie Laure, Reynel Hugnatan, and Jeffrey Cariaso.