PBA Season 47 gets underway

A RIVALRY will be rekindled on opening night of the PBA's 47th season as the protagonists of last season's Philippine Cup finale, TNT Tropang Giga and Magnolia Timplados Hotshots, take center stage in the main game on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

But before the league opens its new season, the PBA will fete the outstanding individuals of the season just passed where Robert Bolick of NorthPort, Mikey Williams of TNT, Calvin Abueva of Magnolia Timplados and Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra dispute the MVP (most valuable player).

The opening ceremonies will follow with the traditional parade of muses and team colors.

The Tropang Giga, the defending champions of the tournament, face the team they've defeated in five games of the championship series last season — the Hotshots — who will be carrying a new brand, but hoping to bring in the old, fiery form on the hard court.

They square off at 6:30 p.m.

Both teams won't have rookies seeing action this season as they elected to keep the core of the squad and develop their chemistry more.

TNT and Magnolia also try to bounce back after missing out on the finals race in the Governors' Cup, and they want to make a good first impression on opening day.

The Tropang Giga squandered a golden opportunity of making their return to the finals after they lost a twice-to-beat advantage and got beaten in the quarterfinals series by eventual champion Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.

The Hotshots, on the other hand, had an equally painful experience as they got eliminated in the rubber match of their best-of-five semifinals series by the Meralco Bolts when they lost import Mike Harris in the all-important match.

Converge, the newest team in the PBA, wants to have a good start early in its campaign, but will have to do that against unpredictable Rain or Shine in the first game at 4:30 p.m.

Head coach Jeff Cariaso, who was retained by the new owner, which took over the old Alaska franchise along with some of the holdovers of the team, believes that there will be growing pains along the way in the early stage of their campaign.

"That's the direction. We know we're young. We know we're a little bit inexperienced, but again, there's so much upside in these players," Cariaso told The Manila Times. "That makes it more challenging, but it also makes it fun and exciting. This young team, we're gonna go through our ups and downs, we're gonna through our moment where our young guys will have to learn, but it's part of it. It's the route that we want to take, and I'm excited for the tremendous upside of this squad."

The FiberXers brought in four first-round picks in their roster, two of them were selected during the Rookie Draft, while two others were picked up coming from separate trades.

Jeo Ambohot, the 6-foot-7 center from back-to-back NCAA champion Letran, was selected as third overall pick by the FiberXers while talented 6-foot-5 slotman Justin Arana was taken in at No. 4 as Converge intends to form the team around these big men.

Also brought in by Converge were Tyrus Hill, the 6-foot-5 athletic forward, who was acquired from NLEX along with another similarly athletic forward in 6-foot-2 David Murrell for the FiberXers' first-round pick next year, as well as Kurt Lojera.

Lojera, a 6-foot-1 combo guard, was acquired in a trade with Blackwater for big man Yousef Taha.

Converge wasn't the only busy team in the off season as Rain or Shine also tinkered its roster by bringing in three young players from the Rookie Draft.

Selected as No. 5 by the Elasto Painters was Gian Mamuyac, a two-way 6-foot-1 guard from multiple champion team Ateneo, while 6-foot-2 forward Shaun Ildefonso, who is now following the footsteps of his dad, PBA great Danny Ildefonso, was taken in at No. 10.

Hardworking forward Jhonard Clarito from MPBL champion team San Juan was also added to the lineup and the 17th overall pick has something to prove.

But Rain or Shine is even more exciting with the promising showing of its other young stars, particularly sophomore guard Andrei Caracut, who caught the fancy of coach Chris Gavina in practices and tune-up matches.

Games on Sunday

(Araneta Coliseum)

2 p.m. – Leo Awards/

Opening Ceremonies

4:30 p.m. – Converge

vs ROS

6:30 p.m. – TNT vs

Magnolia

Source: TheManila Times