Playing musical chairs

Last Sunday, we reviewed the lineups of Blackwater, Mahindra, Barako Bull, Alaska and Barangay Ginebra for the PBA’s 41st season opening at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. We mentioned that during a busy offseason, at least 40 veterans switched uniforms and close to 30 rookies were inked to contracts.

Let’s go over the rosters of the Star Hotshots, San Miguel Beer, Rain Or Shine and Globalport. We’ll discuss the lineups of the remaining teams Talk ‘N’ Text, Meralco and NLEX in tomorrow’s column.

The Hotshots are thrilled to reactivate Ian Sangalang who suffered an ACL injury after playing only one game for the Star last season. New coach Jason Webb has high hopes for rookie Norbert Torres to make a splash as well as veteran recruits Ronald Pascual from San Miguel and Jake Pascual from Barako. Gone from last season’s roster are Joe De Vance (to Ginebra), Don Allado and Mick Pennisi (to Barako Bull).

The Star’s holdovers are Marc Pingris, James Yap, P. J. Simon, Mark Barroca, Allein Maliksi, Justin Melton, Rafi Reavis, Alex Mallari, Yousef Taha, Jerwin Gaco and Lester Alvarez. In Webb’s staff are Johnny Abarrientos, Mon Jose and Tony Boy Espinosa.

While Torres is the only rookie in Webb’s cast at the moment, another freshman Mark Cruz of Letran may hop in. “We’re still looking at Mark but that might happen after the NCAA,” said Webb. “No commitments yet, though. I hope our team plays well. It’s not going to be easy but it’s just up to us to embrace the challenge.”

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After capturing a Grand Slam in 2013-14, the Star failed to make it to the finals of three conferences last season. The Hotshots didn’t even qualify for the semifinals of the Philippine Cup but took third in the Commissioner’s Cup and fourth in the Governors Cup. Overall, the Star’s record was 25-20. The previous season, it was 41-30.  

San Miguel Beer moved out Jeric Fortuna and Ronald Pascual but recruited Ryan Arana from Rain Or Shine and Brian Heruela who was JuneMar Fajardo’s teammate at the University of Cebu.  Coach Leo Austria’s squad took two of the three conference crowns last season and fell a title short of a Grand Slam.

What will cripple San Miguel in the early going this season is back-to-back MVP JuneMar Fajardo’s absence. He’s still hobbled by bilateral plantar fasciitis in both feet, a condition that prevented him from joining Gilas at the recent FIBA Asia Championships in Changsha. How long Fajardo will stay away from the court is anybody’s guess. Rest is the only cure for his ailment. “JuneMar’s gained some weight, about 10 pounds, during his layoff but he’s the type who can get back in shape quickly,” said a team insider. “A few weeks ago, he tested himself by running around the oval and his left foot started to hurt. So that delayed his return to practice again.”

San Miguel team manager Gee Abanilla said rookie Michael Mabulac of Jose Rizal was picked up as a practice player. “Mabulac will be in our reserve list but ready to play in case of any injury in the team,” said Abanilla.

The Beermen roster is virtually intact with Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Marco Lassiter, Chris Lutz, Gabby Espinas, Jay-R Reyes, Ronald Tubid, Chris Ross, David Semerad, Bitoy Omolon and Yancy de Ocampo back in the fold.

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Rain Or Shine is reenlisting Ronnie Matias from Barako Bull and signed up Jewel Ponferada from Globalport and rookies Don Trollano, Maverick Ahanmisi and Josan Nimes.  Missing from last season’s lineup are T. Y. Tang (who retired), Jervy Cruz and Jonathan Uyloan (to Globalport) and Arana.

Returning are Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Jireh Ibanes, Jeric Teng, Jericho Cruz, Beau Belga, J. R. Quinahan, Raymond Almazan, Jeff Chan and Chris Tiu. The Elasto Painters went to the finals of the last Commissioner’s Cup and lost to Talk ‘N’ Text in a 7-game series that went the distance. Coach Yeng Guiao also took the Painters to third place in the Philippine Cup and Governors Cup. The team’s overall record was 35-20, a 63.6 percent winning clip.

Globalport coach Pido Jarencio took in rookies Roi Sumang of UE and Philip Paniamogan of Jose Rizal and veterans Uyloan, Dorian Pena, Joseph Yeo, Jervy Cruz and Jay Washington (from Talk ‘N’ Text). Struck out were Denok Miranda (to Talk ‘N’ Text), Ronjay Buenafe (to Meralco), Ponferada, Prince Caperal and John Pinto. In the fringes is University of Cebu guard Luigi Bercede who was Kia’s fourth round pick in the 2014 draft. Bercede was the 41st and last player chosen in the rookie stakes last year. His consolation is 46 players were undrafted.

Leading the charge for the Batang Pier are the holdovers, namely, Gilas’ “Golden Boy” Terrence Romeo, Stanley Pringle, Doug Kramer, Keith Jensen, Anthony Semerad, Paolo Taha, Mark Isip, skipper Billy Mamaril and Marvin Hayes. Globalport ranked No. 4 at the end of the eliminations in the last Governors Cup but blew a twice-to-beat advantage in losing two in a row to the Hotshots in the quarterfinals. Jarencio’s refurbished lineup could make waves this season.