Tigers have what it takes to rule

Gone: Joseph Yeo, William Antonio, Mike Gavino, Gerard Francisco, Leo Avenido, Irvin Sotto
Gain: Cesar Catli, Mark Isip, Mark Telan, Ronjay Buenafe
Mainstays: Ali Peek, Alex Cabagnot, Kenneth Duremdes, Jayson Misolas, Chester Tolomia, John Arigo, Egay Echavez, MC Caceres, Ricky Calimag, Ronjay Enrile.

Bigger and more ferocious.
The Coca-Cola Tigers are looking more a lot like it come the new Philippine Basketball Association season.

The first order of the day during the off-season for coach Binky Favis is to upload the team’s badly depleted frontcourt that only had Ali Peek to rely on during the entire 2006-07 campaign.

Favis got what he wished for by latching on free agent big man Mark Telan from Air21. Then in a bold move, he sent Joseph Yeo, the team’s top rookie pick a year ago at no. 3, packing for Sta. Lucia in exchange for promising sophomore Mark Isip and Cesar Catli.

With a more stable rotation at the post and a steady backcourt manned by Alex Cabagnot, Favis believes the Tigers have what it takes to be a competitive unit beginning with the season opener Philippine Cup on October 14 at the Araneta Coliseum.

“We’ve definitely gotten better. I guess we can now look forward to competing in the playoffs,” said the articulate mentor about his team that failed to make it past the wildcard phase of the entire 32nd season.

For added measure, the Tigers also added to their roster Emilio Aguinaldo College deadshot Ronjay Buenafe, whom they picked in the second round (no. 11 overall) of the recent PBA Rookie Draft.

Signed to a two-year contract, Buenafe, whom Favis described as ‘very promising,’ provides a third outside threat at the wings for Coca-Cola after resident gunner John Arigo and former league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kenneth Duremdes.

Buenafe already showed signs of what he will bring to the Tigers by leading the team in scoring for most of the league’s pre-season tournament.

The addition of Buenafe, Catli, Isip and Telan to a young core composed of Cabagnot, Arigo and last year’s all-rookie team MC Caceres gives a peek at what the future holds for the franchise.

“We’re laying down the foundation of this team and I think we’re moving towards the right direction,” Favis stressed.