San Mig solid pick in PBA 40th season

MANILA, Philippines - San Mig Coffee is the top favorite being the reigning four-peat champ but no less than five teams in Rain or Shine, Talk n Text, San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra and Alaska are seen as solid contender in the grand PBA Season 40 that begins Oct. 19 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Three new ball clubs, including the Kia Sorento under playing-coach Manny Pacquiao, 24 rookies and a host of veteran players in new jerseys add spice in the milestone season officially launched at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong yesterday.

The season fires off with an explosive twinbill pitting Kia Motors versus Blackwater Elite at 3 p.m. then Barangay Ginebra opposite Talk n Text at 5:15 p.m.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud, board chairman Patrick Gregorio, vice chairman Robert Non and treasurer Erick Arejola said it would be a season of celebration and thanksgiving, looking back to the league’s glorious past and at the same time looking forward to scaling greater heights.

“Faced with risk and uncertainty when it was founded in 1975, the PBA in its 40 years has become a source of inspiration and pride to many of us who’ve seen it grow right before our very eyes,” said Salud.

“The PBA is an institution far from perfect and that is what makes it even more exciting. Anchored on the spirit of doing the right things today, on integrity, sportsmanship and public interest, I’m very confident the PBA will continue to improve and hopefully break barriers,” Salud added.

Gregorio said they’ve laid down a season program that’s not grandiose but would be very meaningful, highlighted by the naming of the league’s 40 greatest players on April 18.

Of course, the biggest treat for the fans is the 10-month hostilities among the 12 competing teams.

All the teams point to coach Tim Cone and his team as the wise bet even as they’ve been struggling in the off-season, losing all six tune-up matches.

“After winning the grand slam, we can’t lower our goal. We’re looking forward to the Philippine Cup where we gun (championship) No. 5. After that, we’ll chase No. 6 and tie Crispa’s record,” said San Mig Coffee governor Rene Pardo.

Pardo and most of the other officials believe Rain or Shine, Talk n Text, San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra and Alaska would give San Mig Coffee the toughest challenge.

Pardo made special mention of Rain or Shine, being twice finalist in Season 39.

“They made two finals last year and they gave us a tough time. Alaska, Talk n Text, San Miguel Beer and Ginebra would also be there. Chemistry would be a big factor,” said Pardo.

The three new teams would be happy making a decent showing in their inaugural PBA season.

“We would like to be positive but we also have to be realistic. We built our team from the expansion draft and didn’t get to pick in the rookie draft until No. 11. We’re not setting our sights on the quarterfinals, but we’d like to think we’ll get our wins,” said Kia governor Ginia Domingo.

“We hope to make the Top Eight, hindi naman masamang mangarap. We believe we have a good coach (Leo Isaac). Playing with guts and with help from above, we can probably meet our goal,” said Blackwater’s Silliman Sy.

“Our objective is a decent performance. As we’ve mentioned as we entered the PBA, we’d like to carry brand of excellence as what we’d done in the D-League,” said NLEX’s Ramoncito Fernandez.

This early, Kia’s getting the biggest attention among the three with their iconic playing coach.

Pacquiao has seen action in one of Kia’s tune-up matches, logging one point and one rebound against two turnovers in 10 minutes in a 77-88 loss to Blackwater.

The league commissioner played down expectation from Pacquiao.

“Pacquiao is just fulfilling his dream, and his presence certainly adds flavor to the league. Matalino si Manny. He won’t put himself in a position to embarrass himself,” said Salud.

The PBA commissioner has one big request to Pacquiao. “Please do not get injured,” said Salud, knowing pretty well Pacquiao is loved the most fighting atop the ring.