San Juan faces Batangas in MBA inaugural today

The Andok’s San Juan Knights have the cohesion, the LBC Batangas Blades the firepower. Whoever can exploit their perceived edge should come out the winner in the 3 p.m. encounter ushering the first phase of the Metropolitan Basketball Association today.

Stars Romel Adducul, Alex Compton, Peter Martin and Jonathan Serrano have been acquired from Manila, but whether they have jelled with Batangas stalwarts Eddie Laure, Stephen Antonio and Tonyboy Espinosa remains to be seen.

In contrast, the Knights are virtually the same team that beat the Negros Slashers for the 2000 national title.

Except for man-mountain Bonel Balingit, all the Knights, led by national players Chris Calaguio, Omanzie Rodriguez and Chito Victolero, have returned eager to play against stronger teams this year.

Taking over the 6-foot-9 Balingit’s slot is Gilbert Castillo, who’s a better all-around player but is five inches shorter, leaving the 6-8 Rafi Reavis and the 6-6 Rodriguez to patrol the middle.

Others expected to deliver for coach Philip Cezar are high flyer Bruce Dacia, Danny Capobres and Randy Alcantara.

The 5:30 p.m. game pits Southern Conference rivals Negros Slashers and Cebuana Lhuillier Gems at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.

Negros emerged conference champion, while Cebu ruled the Intra-Conference last year.

Completing the eight-team field are the FedEx Laguna Lakers, the Davao Eagles, the Socsargen Marlins and the Nueva Ecija Patriots.

A one-hour inaugural ceremony featuring fiesta-like celebrations in the teams’ respective areas will precede the games to be shown live over PTV 4.