Pros take a bow

By: Gerry Ramos
People's Journal
October 13, 2007

Game Today(Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. -- Opening ceremony
6:30 p.m. -- Magnolia vs. Air21

MAGNOLIA coach Siot Tanquingcen has another major concern other than going up against the young and promising Air21 team in the Beverage Masters’ debut game for the 2007-08 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season.

Who in Magnolia’s star-studded lineup gets to start tonight when the franchise, carrying a new name and monicker, finally displays the manpower that has been the envy of just about every team seeing action in the season-opening conference Philippine Cup that kicks off today at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Iyun nga lang pag-decide sa lineup for each game, big issue na kaagad kung paano pasasayahin ang lahat. Siguradong me aangal because that’s human nature,” said the young head coach about his problem in the Beverage Masters’ 6:30 p.m. encounter with the Express.

Prior to the lone opening game, a colorful, lively and hilarious ceremony ushers the league’s 33rd season to be hosted by the crazy duo of Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola of the Eat Bulaga fame.

El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde will deliver the opening prayer, R&B princess Kyla sings the national anthem, before the entire PBA Board of Governors, led by chairman Tony Chua of Red Bull, and Officer In-Charge Sonny Barrios formally declare open the new PBA season.

Invited to add glitter and glamour in today’s opening rite are boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao, reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa and bowling legend and four-time World Cup champion Paeng Nepomuceno.

ABC-5, the official television coveror of the league, airs a short PBA primer at 4 p.m. before the live coverage of the event at the Big Dome, which will also be viewed live in the Gulf region, US West Coast, Chicago, New Jersey, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe via the TFC (The Filipino Channel).

Already loaded with talent with Danny Ildefonso, Olsen Racela, Enrico Villanueva, Wesley Gonzales, LA Tenorio, Chris Calaguio, Gabby Espinas, Willy Wilson, Lordy Tugade and RP team stalwarts Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros around, the team formerly known as the San Miguel Beermen became even more potent with the addition of former Rookie of the Year Larry Fonacier and rookies Samigue Eman and Jonas Villanueva during the off-season.

The powerhouse cast doesn’t include yet veteran big man Dorian Peña, out with an injury and won’t be back with the team until late December.

With a talent-laden roster, many sees coaching should come in handy for Tanquingcen.

It won’t.

“Admittedly, a lot of our players have been go-to-guys, pero hindi puwedeng lahat sila go-to-guys dito. Kung one-on-one siguro ang laro, no question na mananalo kami. Pero hindi nga. Iisa lang ang bola,” said the former Santo Tomas playmaker.

For Air21 mentor Bo Perasol, Tanquingcen’s quandary also serves as the main predicament for his Express.

“Isa pa yun na kalama-ngan ng Magnolia, manghuhula pa kami kung sino ang ilalaro nila,” he pointed out.

But just as talented the Beverage Masters’ roster is, so are the Express.

Rookies John Christopher Intal, Doug Kramer and Marvin Cruz have just been mixed up in an athletic Air21 line-up bannered by Arwind Santos, KG Canaleta, Ranidel de Ocampo, Wynne Arboleda, Homer Se and Aris Dimaunahan.

The Express, coming off a stint in the Asian Basketball Association Championship in Shenzhen, China during the season break, also hold a 3-0 record against the Beverage Masters in their head-to-head match-up in the last Fiesta Conference, giving Perasol at least a ray of hope of a possible Air21 upset.

“We’re looking forward to our game. The boys know malakas ang kalaban, pero positive pa rin ang attitude that everything will work out fine for us against Magnolia,” said Perasol, still the man to call the shots for the Express, at least for the duration of the Philippine Cup, as management’s negotiations to get the services of basketball Living Legend Robert Jaworski as Air21 coach is still ongoing.