Barrios sees unpredictable PBA season

With 18 blue-chip rookies out to make waves and 15 veterans switching teams, PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said yesterday he expects an unpredictable season marked by a level playing field and a stronger resolve to push for the championship.

“The PBA has evolved to a point where all teams are at a level of competence to make every game a toss-up,” he said. “We’re definitely a more balanced league now. In the off-season, we saw our teams upgrading. They didn’t only beef up by adding players from the draft or the free agents pool or by trading but some teams went abroad to train. We’re looking forward to a very exciting season.”

Coming at the heels of a record-breaking campaign where over 22,000 fans packed the Araneta Coliseum for Game 7 of the Fiesta Conference finals, the PBA is geared to welcome its 34th season with a blockbuster inaugural program at the Big Dome this afternoon.

Barrios said the PBA’s slogan this season is “Atin ’To” to establish the league’s unique and exciting brand of Pinoy basketball in the consciousness of a global audience. The year’s theme is caring for the youth.

“We’re serious about our corporate social responsibility,” said Barrios. “We’re working with the US Embassy to support Ambassador (Kristie) Kenney’s projects for streetchildren and the NBA in its Read-To-Achieve program.”

Last Saturday, Ambassador Kenney took a group of Muslim kids from Taguig to a Purefoods practice at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. Ambassador Kenney and the kids were the Tender Juicy Giants’ special guests for two hours.

“Ambassador Kenney was in sneakers and shooting baskets with the kids and the Purefoods players,” said Barrios. “We really admire Ambassador Kenney for her commitment and passion. We will open up more practices of our teams to her beneficiaries and set up clinics for kids with our players.”

Ambassador Kenney and former PBA commissioner Rudy Salud will be at center court for the ceremonial toss to open the new season. Salud is being honored for his vision of promoting Pinoy basketball.

A highlight of the inaugural program is the parade of teams with their muses. From all indications, the parade will be spectacular. San Miguel Beer will showcase five Brazilian models – Fabiane Fink, Poliana Oliveira, Samyle Brandao, Petra Dvorakova and Mia Molnar. Alaska ’s muse is Isabel Diaz Daza whose mother Gloria Diaz was once Miss Universe. Barangay Ginebra will march with Iwa Moto, Purefoods with Iya Villania, Sta. Lucia Realty with Arianna Barouk, Air21 with Miss Philippines-Earth 2008 Carla Paula Henry and Rain or Shine with Miss Earth Priscilla Meirelles.

Red Bull team governor Tony Chua said the Barakos will come in with a Brazilian model. Team manager Andy Jao said she isn’t a showbiz personality and fans are in for a surprise. Coca-Cola team governor J. B. Baylon said the Tigers muse will likely be TV comedienne Pokwang who was a huge hit with the fans last year.

Talk ‘N’ Text, now called the Tropang Texters, is tipped to steal the show. Smart’s Patrick Gregorio said actress Rufa Mae Quinto will lead the way as Snow White accompanied by seven “dwarves” or midgets dressed in Talk ‘N’ Text jerseys in line with the PBA’s theme of reaching out to the youth. Each player will also escort an executive secretary from the Talk ‘N’ Text head office which has been supportive of the team’s efforts since it entered the PBA.

The 18 rookies include 16 who were picked in the draft last August. The only two undrafted freshmen are Coca-Cola’s 6-6 Lawrence Bonus, an applicant this year, and Purefoods’ 6-4 Chad Alonzo, an applicant in 2006. The drafted rookies are Air21’s Cholo Villanueva, Alaska’s Mark Borboran and Kelvin de la Peña, Purefoods’ Jonathan Fernandez and Beau Belga, Rain or Shine’s T.Y. Tang, Solomon Mercado and Gabe Norwood, Red Bull’s Larry Rodriguez and Jeff Chan, San Miguel’s Bonbon Custodio, Sta. Lucia’s Kelvin Gregorio and Talk ‘N’ Text’s Rob Reyes, Pong Escobal, Jason Castro and Jared Dillinger.

Veterans in new uniforms are Air21’s J. R. Quinahan, Alaska’s Ervin Sotto and Joe DeVance, Coca-Cola’s Froilan Baguion, Ginebra’s Junjun Cabatu, Purefoods’ Paolo Bugia, Aaron Aban and Topex Robinson, Rain or Shine’s Eddie Laure, Mark Andaya and comebacking Gherome Ejercito (whose last team was Red Bull in 2005), Red Bull’s Gabby Espinas and Paolo Hubalde and San Miguel’s Jay Washington and Mick Pennisi.

Newly appointed national coach Yeng Guiao of Red Bull said the teams to beat are Alaska (the favorite), Talk ‘N’ Text (always strong), San Miguel Beer (very big), Rain or Shine (due to break out) and Ginebra (slow at the start because of injuries then strong at the finish with key players recovered).

Teams that went abroad to build up were Air21 (Singapore), Sta. Lucia (Bahrain, Qatar), Purefoods (Qatar, Singapore), San Miguel (Qatar) and Talk ‘N’ Text (Italy).

In the preseason, teams that won consistently were Alaska, Purefoods, San Miguel and Rain or Shine. The Aces, who recently worked on chemistry in a team-building exercise in Cagayan de Oro, were devastating in crushing the Elasto Painters, 90-77, and Purefoods, 88-71, with DeVance, Willie Miller, Sonny Thoss, L.A. Tenorio and Jeffrey Cariaso on the firing end.

San Miguel will miss two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso who underwent surgery on both feet at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles last August and is expected back in town late this month. Ildefonso will likely sit out the conference.

Two significant rule changes to be applied this season involve flagrant fouls and ball-hogging. A player guilty of a flagrant foul 1 will be benched for at least three minutes and any other player of his team to commit a similar offense subsequently will be benched for at least five minutes. A player cannot hold on to the ball for more than five seconds before and after dribbling when guarded closely.