San Mig vs Pharex in PBL opener

Malaya
October 12, 2007

San Mig Coffee (formerly San Miguel-Magnolia) tests the mettle of newcomer Pharex, while Toyota Balintawak collides with Bacchus Energy Dink when the PBL First
Conference opens shop on Oct. 20 at The Arena in San Juan.

Commissioner Chino Trinidad said the coming conference is expected to be as exciting and fierce as the previous conferences since most of the collegiate stars, including UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz of University of Santo Tomas, will be seeing action in the tournament.

Fil-Am players are also expected to provide entertainment with their razzle-dazzle kind of game.

"The endearing exploits of some of the finest collegiate players are expected to spill over in the PBL considering that most of them will see action," said Trinidad. "And since most of our marquee players are on loan to the Philippine team, it’s going to be a wide open race for the championship."

Ateneo’s 6-foot-5 center Ford Arao will suit up for the San Mig Coffee Kings, hoping to make an impact to a team determined to regain its star status in the league following disappointing performances in the last two conferences.

But what makes the coming tournament more interesting is the coming of Fil-Am player Gabe Norwood. The 6’5 Norwood played alongside the pros for the Philippine team in the FIBA-Asia tournament in Japan last August.

Hapee team manager Bernard Yang said the high-leaping forward is arriving next week, bringing with him his vast experience as the sixth man of George Mason University in the US NCAA a couple of years ago.

With Norwood around, Hapee is tipped as the heavy favorite to rule the tournament. The Teethmasters take on Lina Group of Companies on Oct. 23.

Harbour Centre, which won the last three tournaments, is handicapped by the absence of its top guns–Jason Castro, Beau Belga, Jonathan Fernandez and Chad Alonzo
who are on loan to the RP team.

Other promising rookies to watch are Far Eastern University’s Alfredo Gerilla and Marvel Baracael, University of the East’s James Martinez, Jose Rizal University’s James Ryan Sena and San Beda’s John Carlos Hernide.

Though drafted No. 2 by the Lina Group of Companies, the 6’4 Cruz will be playing for the Harbour Centre-backed Philippine team for the coming tournament.

Martinez will play for Bacchus, Sena for Toyota Balintawak, Gerilla for Pharex and Hernide for Hapee.