MANILA, Philippines - Amid speculations of SMC’s purchase of the Coca-Cola Bottlers’ franchise, the PBA Commissioner’s Cup unwraps tonight with a twinbill pitting Alaska Milk versus Barako Bull and B-Meg against Meralco at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
At noon, the PBA board of governors convenes in an emergency meeting to discuss the reported sale agreement reached by Coca-Cola and San Miguel Corp.
If the two teams indeed have come to terms, sources doubt if they can draw the needed number – at least seven out of 10 – to get the league approval.
Alaska and Barako Bull clash at 5:15 p.m. then Meralco and B-Meg collide at 7:30 p.m.
The Aces will practically be a new Alaska team as they abandon the triangle offense, the system the team used to win 13 championships under coach Tim Cone.
Chief playmaker LA Tenorio said the team agreed to set aside their old scheme in a series of talks, including the one during their team building session in Antipolo two weeks ago.
Team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu is one with the players and coach Joel Banal that it’s better for them to adopt a new system following their dismal ninth place finish in the recent Philippine Cup won by Talk n Text for the second straight time.
Tenorio said they’re now more of a run-and-gun type of team like Rain or Shine. “Cyrus Baguio and Bonbon Custodio are very happy. It suits their style,” said Tenorio.
The downside, also according to Tenorio, is that the post presence of import Adam Parada and Sonny Thoss is being sacrificed.
Curiously, Parada plays his first game with Alaska against his former team Barako Bull which is reinforced by Dermarr Johnson – sixth pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2000 NBA draft.
The Energy, eighth placers in the all-Filipino tourney, return with some changes in their lineup. Gone are Dylan Ababou and Paul Artadi and in their places come Ronald Tubid, Chico Lanete and Reil Cervantes.
JC Intal debuts with B-Meg which is said to have an impressive import in Denzel Bowles, a 6-foot-10 behemoth who starred for James Madison U.