Top rookies strut wares; Bulls eye No. 2

Red Bull goes for a second straight win but four debuting freshmen, seeing action for other teams, are likely to seize the spotlight in the third play date of the Talk n Text PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Top draft picks and former PBL teammates Kelly Williams and Arwind Santos clash in their much-awaited showdown as Sta. Lucia Realty and Air21 slug it out in the 4:40 p.m. opener.

Then the Bulls seek a follow-up to their 99-93 drubbing of the Alaska Milk Aces Thursday in Guam against a San Miguel Beer team parading LA Tenorio and Gabby Espinas who are likely to play key roles right in their rookie year in the pros.

Meanwhile, Red Bull is enlisting a new player in Carlo Sharma in lieu of Mike Hrabak.

The day also marks the return of national coach Chot Reyes in PBA action, taking over from Jong Uichico in calling the shots for the Beermen. Reyes concentrated with the national training pool the last two years.

But much of the focus could well be on Williams, the 6-foot-4 Fil-Am forward who could provide direction for Sta. Lucia.

The University of Detroit-Oakland product is expected to give the Realtors a big lift in their bid to improve on their atrocious showing last season. The Realtors, saddled by injuries to key players then, finished seventh in the Fiesta Cup and dead last in the Philippine Cup.

Sta. Lucia governor Buddy Encarnado expressed confidence on Williams, predicting their "championship is now around the corner" after picking the slam-dunking player No. 1 overall in the recent rookie draft.

Williams, however, is likely to face tough challenge right in his pro debut as he will be ranged against former Magnolia teammate Santos and Air21 veterans Ranidel de Ocampo, Homer Se and Niño Canaleta.

For the Express, attention will be on the team’s combination of four big men and a point guard in brothers Yancy and Ranidel de Ocampo, Canaleta, Arwind Santos and playmaker Wynne Arboleda.

"Coach Bo says it can be done because Arwind and Canaleta are quick with their size, can trap on defense and can run the breaks," said Air21 governor and team manager Lito Alvarez.

The Red Bull-San Miguel tiff is an interesting match between two teams among those expected to figure prominently in the race for the championship.

Red Bull was so successful last campaign that coach Yeng Guiao opted to keep his lineup intact. San Miguel finished fourth in the last Philippine Cup and is hopeful of a better showing with a lineup infused with fresh blood in Tenorio and Espinas.

Tenorio, the former Ateneo chief playmaker, is a welcome addition in the Beermen’s backcourt while Espinas, a versatile forward out of PCU, beefed up the team’s frontcourt.