New look in PBA

The second conference gets underway in the PBA with a doubleheader at the Mall of Asia Arena today and fans are bracing for a new-look treat after the Philippine Cup ended less than a week ago.

A crowd of 22,511 closed out the first conference which began with an attendance of 52,612 at the Philippine Arena. Fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the Commissioner’s Cup not only because of the features the league is introducing but also because of the scuffles that broke out in the run-up. Fights erupted in three separate tune-up games, indicating the players are getting ready for some serious physicality. The PBA, of course, has issued a strong warning to roughhousers that dirty play won’t be tolerated and penalties will be severe for wrongdoers.

The invasion of imports will turn the Commissioner’s Cup into a wide-open battle for supremacy. Now, more than ever, anything can happen in a game as the outcome will be unpredictable. The last four placers of the Philippine Cup are allowed an import with no height limit so Barako Bull, Kia and Blackwater are parading seven-footers. NLEX won’t bring in a seven-footer but the Road Warriors are doubly dangerous with NBA veteran Al Thornton teaming with resident big man Asi Taulava. The seven-footers are Peter John Ramos of Kia, Chris Charles of Blackwater and Solomon Alabi of Barako.

The other imports are Alaska’s D. J. Covington of Virginia Military Institute, Purefoods’ Marqus Blakely of the University of Vermont (interim replacement for Daniel Orton who is playing out his contract in China), Globalport’s Calvin (C. J.) Leslie of North Carolina State, Talk ‘N’ Text’s Richard Howell of North Carolina State, Barangay Ginebra’s Michael Dunigan of the University of Oregon, Meralco’s Josh Davis of San Diego State, Rain Or Shine’s Rick Jackson of Syracuse and San Miguel Beer’s Eric Griffin of Campbell University.

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Tailender Blackwater undertook a major overhaul of its lineup in a bid to move out of the cellar. Raphy Reyes, Gio Ciriacruz, Gilbert Bulawan and Jerick Canada were enlisted to join holdovers Alex Nuyles, J. P. Erram, Bryan Faundo, Jason Ballesteros, Bam-Bam Gamalinda, Eddie Laure, Bacon Austria, Chris Timberlake, Brian Heruela, Robby Celiz and Val Acuna. Struck out of the lineup were Juami Tiongson, J. R. Cawaling, Ogie Menor, Paul Artadi, Larry Rodriguez and Sunday Salvacion. Canada, a rookie, opens the campaign in the reserve list but is expected to be activated sooner than later. The former Adamson guard has played on two ABL title squads and last season, teamed with Charles in powering Bangkok to the ABL throne.

Veterans in new teams include Kia’s Mark Yee, Talk ‘N’ Text’s comebacking Willie Miller, Globalport’s Denok Miranda, Barako Bull’s Sol Mercado and Meralco’s Jai Reyes. NLEX rookie Raul Soyud sat out the Philippine Cup in the reserve list but has now been elevated to the regular cast. Ginebra’s Dylan Ababou, who played only a game in the Philippine Cup, was also reactivated in place of James Forrester.

There will be 66 elimination games over 36 playdays with seven out-of-towners. The first out-of-towner is set in Binan on Sunday with Blackwater taking on Talk ‘N’ Text and Barangay Ginebra facing Barako Bull. The other out-of-town pairings are Alaska against NLEX in Polomolok on Feb. 7, Purefoods against Rain Or Shine in Dipolog on Feb. 14, San Miguel Beer against Meralco in Cagayan de Oro on Feb. 21, Kia against Blackwater in Tubod on Feb. 28, Talk ‘N’ Text against Purefoods in Davao City on March 14 and Ginebra against Globalport in Panabo on March 21.

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Games are scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with Saturday for six out-of-town affairs (excluding Binan). The Smart Araneta Coliseum is the venue for 22 playdays, Cuneta Astrodome for four, Mall of Asia Arena for two and Ynares Center in Antipolo for one.

The format will be a departure from the Philippine Cup proceedings. The 12 teams play a single round-robin in the eliminations after which the last four finishers take an early vacation. In the quarterfinals, No. 1 tangles with No. 8 with a twice-to-beat advantage and No. 2 battles No. 8 also with a twice-to-beat edge while No. 3 meets No. 6 and No. 4 tackles No. 5 in separate best-of-three series. The four survivors advance to play in the best-of-five semifinals and the winners move on to dispute the championship in a best-of-seven duel.

In the Commissioner’s Cup last season, Howell was named Best Import but failed to bring Talk ‘N’ Text to the top as San Mig Coffee (now Purefoods) defeated the Tropa, 3-1, in the best-of-five finals. Howell gets a chance for redemption this conference with his second tour of duty with the Texters. He’s the only import returning from last season. Dunigan saw action for Air21 in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup.

The three-man FIBA evaluation committee, in town to inspect the facilities in connection with the Philippines bid to host the 2019 FIBA World Cup, will attend the Ginebra-Meralco game tonight. Committee chairman Lubomir Kotleba, a much-loved FIBA ambassador of quality officiating, has been invited to make the ceremonial tip-off. He will be accompanied by FIBA director general of media and marketing services Frank Leenders and FIBA director of events Predrag Bogosavljev. PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio said general admission will be free to the public for the opening twinbill.