PBA 2001 season on

Showtime is back.

After a two-month lull, the Philippine Basketball Association opens shop again, commencing its 2001 wars with elaborate rites followed by a one-game feature at the Araneta Coliseum today.

The country’s premier pro league kicks off its 27th season amidst hopes of yet another banner year despite the weak economy. Alaska Milk faces Sta. Lucia Realty in the opening game.

Popular entertainers Gary Valenciano and Geneva Cruz are among those performing in the ceremonies which start at 4 p.m. The opening tip is at 5:30.

The opening-game protagonists had decent showing last year with the Aces ruling the All-Filipino Cup and the Realtors bagging the second-place trophy in the Commissioner’s Cup.

But forget the past. Practically all the teams underwent a major facelift, and these off-season developments point at a more balanced competition.

Alaska is among those coming out with a new look this year. The Uytengsu ballclub is a relatively young team again yet it still looks capable of putting up a tough challenge against any of its rivals.

Rebuilding its team with hopes of making another dynasty in the league, the Alaska management shipped out old mainstays Johnny Abarrientos, Poch Juinio and Bong Hawkins and replaced them with young talents in Fil-Ams Ali Peek, Jon Ordonio, John Arigo and Kenny Evans.

Sta. Lucia also enlisted new players in Francis Adriano, Marvin Ortiguerra, Felix Belano and Jercules Tangkay in a bid to upgrade its roster to the extent of being two-deep on all positions.

After a respectful campaign last year, the Realtors are determined to press their bid further, hoping to finally nail their first championship in the league.

Tanduay Rhum and San Miguel Beer, which are still involved in a tug-of-war for the services of ace slotman Danny Ildefonso, start their own campaigns versus Purefoods and Ginebra, respectively, Wednesday. Mobiline plays Shell while Pop Cola takes on Red Bull Friday.

The 10 teams, which are divided into two groups, figure in an inter-intra format in the elimination round. Each team will play its groupmates once and the teams in the other group twice, with the best eight teams afterwards moving to the matchup quarterfinal round.

Alaska, San Miguel, Sta. Lucia, Ginebra and Shell compose Group A while Purefoods, Tanduay, Pop Cola, Mobiline and Red Bull comprise Group B.

This early, the consensus among coaches is that San Miguel Beer — provided it keeps Ildefonso in its fold — is the team to beat with Purefoods, Alaska and Red Bull the tough challengers.