Problems starting up

And so it begins. The preparation for the PBA’s next Philippine Cup began this week in earnest, as all the teams that are not seeing action abroad have hit the hardwood to get back into game shape.

Among those expected to face a major challenge are the Coca-Cola Tigers. Although they abundantly took in recruits from the rookie draft (with six all in all), they still do not have the size to match up against other teams. In the pre-season, Coke lost Billy Mamaril, Rafi Reavis and the rights to Rudy Hatfield, leaving Ali Peek as the only big man in the middle. But head coach Binky Favis seems to have accepted this fate.

"I’ve been through this with UST (in the UAAP), I’ve been through this with Pampanga (the Dragons of the MBA), I’ve been through this with Ginebra, so it’s nothing new to me," says Favis, who was an assistant at Ginebra before being promoted to head coach of the Tigers when Chot Reyes took over the national team. "It’s a challenge, and it’s a long process."

Although he has a platoon of crack guards, including rookie standouts Joseph Yeo and Chris Pacana, the big question mark is if he will end up with a doughnut team, since there are no quality centers open for trades, and he doesn’t really have any trade bait.

"We really have to run this time," Favis told The STAR. "But you know, I’m excited. I’m looking forward to seeing these players make something of themselves. I look forward to seeing a player who’s a nothing become something."

Meanwhile, the Air21 Express are extremely happy with Arwind Santos in the line-up, since they were looking for someone of that quality.

"We were really looking for a big man who could play the wing," admits coach Bo Perasol, also realizing another problem that has to be addressed. "That way, we can play big, and press and run. Although we are working on improving the chemistry, our emphasis is defense. We have to improve on the defensive end."

So far, the Express have been practicing with only eight players, since they have loaned their big men to the national team playing in the Brunei Cup. The players will return at the end of next week.

The overlap between the PBA pre-season and the on-going collegiate basketball tournaments also adds to the adjustment problems of the new rookies. Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo watched the NCAA games at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last Wednesday, and was very impressed with the performance of Aces recruit Aaron Aban, despite the Knights’ loss to the Mapua Cardinals.

"I’ve wanted to see him in action," Trillo said, unable to conceal his pride in the athletic and defensive abilities of his new acquisition.

The Purefoods Chunkee Giants finally went back to practice at the adidas SportsKamp Thursday, after a long self-imposed vacation. Power forward Jondan Salvador will be returning to action after recovering from knee surgery.

"We’re glad Jondan will be back with us," says head coach Ryan Gregorio. "He’s like a tank in the low post, low to the ground and practically immovable. That’s a major contribution on defense."

Incidentally, some friends Chunkee Giant Eugene Tejada are planning a series of fund-raising events to help with his medical costs now that he is receiving treatment in San Francisco.

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Meanwhile, the National Basketball Conference’s inaugural national champion Tribu Sugbu is back in the league.

NBC secretary-general Tito Palma has made final arrangements for the return of the league’s original member from the Queen City of the South in a meeting with Skygo’s Lito Gillamac Jr. and his new partner Jonathan Guardo, the former Cebu City Sports Commission chairman and one of the moving forces behind the success of the Southeast Asian Games in Cebu last year. Guardo is now the chief executive officer of Osaka Iridology and Arthro, which will be sponsoring the team. The team will be coached by former PBA All-Star Al Solis.

"After a thorough study of the NBC’s proposal, we finally came up with a decision to bring Cebu back in the league. We want to make the team’s return a big hit in Cebu and throughout the league as well," said the elder Guardo.

"Cebu is the base of basketball power in the south and Tribu Sugbu proved that by winning the league’s inaugural season and staying among the top teams in the following year," said an elated NBC president Tac Padilla.

Tribu Sugbu, then bannered by Welcoat Dragons Jojo Tangkay and Chico Lanete, won the league’s first national title at the expense of the Ozamiz Cotta, led by Egay Echavez.

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Catch tomorrow’s episode of The Basketball Show at 2 p.m. over RPN 9.