PBA Fiesta Cup opens with bang

The PBA Fiesta Cup finally gets underway today with grand festivities at the Araneta Coliseum welcoming a new break of dawn for the league in its 30th year of existence.

The new PBA season under the league’s new calendar won’t start until October but the league is holding a big bash just the same in celebration of the PBA rebirth in its pearl anniversary.

Consider these: a restructured PBA calendar, the shift from the old three-conference to two-conference format, a brand-new television partner, a fresh set of league board of governors, new faces in the league front office, a number of player movements, entry of another big batch of rookies, one new American coach and mix of old and new imports.

It was indeed a complete metamorphosis which league officials hope lead to a brighter future despite thick clouds of uncertainty surrounding it.

Fittingly, two teams both in transition period collide in the opener of the transition Fiesta Cup.

The Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Shell Turbochargers square off at 6 p.m. after the opening hoopla featuring Parokya ni Edgar, Allan K, Ruffa Mae Quinto and a cast of over a hundred in a celebration of songs and dances.

The Kings are practically in a getting-to-know-each-other stage once again with a new team manager in Eric Altaminano and four new recruits in Andy Seigle, Rodney Santos, Migs Noble and Nonoy Falcasantos.

The Turbochargers must be feeling their way around, too, having a new mentor in John Moran and also four new players in Billy Mamaril, Rich Alvarez, Carlo Sharma and Kelani Ferreria. After the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines withdrew its opposition on Moran’s appointment, the American coach eventually obtained an alien employment permit from the Department of Labor and Employment last Feb. 16.

The first two imports to test each other’s mettle are Ginebra’s Rossell Ellis and Shell’s Marek Ondera. Ellis is temporary playing for the Gins while the team management is still looking for a bigger import.

Reigning All-Filipino champion Talk n Text and Reinforced Cup titlist Coca-Cola open their campaign versus Red Bull Barako and Purefoods, respectively, on Wednesday also at the Big Dome.

Alaska Milk tangles with Sta. Lucia Realty while FedEx tackles San Miguel Beer on Saturday in the tourney’s first visit at the Philsports Arena.

The consensus among coaches is that Talk n Text, Coca-Cola, San Miguel Beer and Red Bull Barako are the teams to beat with Purefoods and Barangay Ginebra likely to make improvement on their finishes in the 2003 campaign.

Coca-Cola, San Miguel and Red Bull Barako kept their teams intact, Talk n Text further strengthened its lineup with its acquisition of talented young players Willie Miller and Yancy de Ocampo while Purefoods and Ginebra did much more as they overhauled their lineups.