PBA Scores, News and Updates

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Trillo, Team PBA big PBAPC awardees

LUIGI Trillo is not ashamed to say where he came from.

“Those were very dark years. You can say I learned the ropes the hard way,” the young Alaska coach said last night after beating out PBA Grand Slam winners Norman Black and Tim Cone for the PBA Press Corps’ coveted Coach of the Year award.

“It is just an honor for me and my family to even be mentioned in the same breath as coach Norman and coach Tim,” Trillo continued after his exploits were feted in a night of stars during the PBAPC’s “A Banquet of Heroes” Awards Night at Wack Wack Golf Club.

“This award is also indicative of the great team that we have at Alaska, from Fred (Uytengsu, the team owner) who has molded me into the coach that I am, to my coaching staff, the players and everyone else,” Trillo continued after receiving the trophy named after the legendary Baby Dalupan.

Team PBA, after a smashing take of over P200 million at the tills the past season, was the unanimous choice as Executive of the Year with past chairman Robert Non of Barangay Ginebra and commissioner Chito Salud receiving the trophy named after the late Crispa bossman Danny Floro.

Marc Pingris of San Mig Coffee was the MyPhone Defensive Player of the Year, receiving his trophy from Patrick Adrianne Cabusay, the marketing communications officer of Myphone, while Gary David, who was with Globalport last season, was the Scoring Champ for the second straight year.

Marcio Lassiter of Petron Blaze was the Bogs Adornado Comeback Player of the Year; Jervy Cruz of Rain or Shine Mr. Quality Minutes while Chris Tiu of Rain or Shine, Alex Mallari of San Mig and Cliff Hodge of Meralco joined June Mar Fajardo of Petron and Calvin Abueva of Alaska in the All-Rookie Team.

Barangay Ginebra’s LA Tenorio won the Accel Order of Merit award for the most Player of the Week citations the past season with three.

Trillo was a gamble Uytengsu took. Despite a horrid record with Adamson in the UAAP, Trillo delivered a title for the Aces in just his third Conference at the helm, guiding the franchise to a 4-0 sweep of Barangay Ginebra in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

From SPIN.ph

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Where is Danny I? Ildefonso's sudden exit from Petron shrouded in mystery

WHEN Petron revealed its final team for the coming PBA season on Wednesday, Blaze Boosters fans were shocked not by the names in the lineup but by one man that wasn't there.

For the first time since he was acquired by San Miguel Corp.'s flagship franchise from Shell in a draft-day trade in 1998, Danny Ildefonso's name was conspicuously missing from the team's official roster.

So what happened?

Team sources revealed that the 6-5 pride of Urdaneta, Pangasinan has indeed been released by Petron after practicing for the last time with the only team he has played for in his pro career on Tuesday afternoon.

"Last day na n'ya kahapon (Tuesday)," said the source. "He's no longer part of the team."

Ildefonso has remained silent on the issue, and efforts to contact him have failed, leaving fans perplexed over his sudden disappearance from the lineup.

The two-time MVP has no plan to retire and has in fact told Spin.ph as early as June that he was looking forward to signing a new contract with Petron at the end of his contract last season.

However, insiders suspect he may have incurred the ire of team officials for comments he gave in an interview with gmanews.com/news/sports on deals the ballclub has made over the years, from the trades involving Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros to the ouster of longtime teammate Olsen Racela as Petron coach last season.

The 15-year veteran has declined requests for an interview, but a person privy to the details said Ildefonso is now trying to meet with team officials - not to beg for a spot in the team but to apologize for whatever hurt his comments have caused.

Sources also said the many-time All-Star has no plan to move to another team and the only thing he wants at this time is to mend his relationship with his longtime team.

From SPIN.ph

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Ginebra is consensus pick among PBA bigwigs as heavy Philippine Cup favorite

MAKING noise with its offseason buildup, Barangay Ginebra as expected emerged as the consensus pick to win the PBA's season-opening Philippine Cup.

From chairman Ramon Segismundo of Meralco to Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes to the rest of the league board of governors, league bigwigs pick the souped-up Kings as the team likely to emerge champions of the all-Filipino tournament.

The Kings were quick to plug their perennial problem down low by tabbing big man Greg Slaughter with the No. 1 overall pick in the last PBA Draft, and then further bolstered their roster by adding rookie James Forrester, center Jay-R Reyes, and guard Emman Monfort.

Obviously, Ginebra’s ambitious offseason acquisition didn’t escape the attention of the rest of the field.

“Hindi ko alam kung sino ang pipiliin ko, `yung puso o isip ko,” said Segismundo as each governors were asked of their top three teams in the coming conference. “Ang isip ko Ginebra, pero sa puso ko Meralco.”

“I feel it’s Ginebra, Globalport, and of course, Petron will be there,” said Alaska alternate governor Dickie Bachmann. “Hopefully, Alaska will be there in the top 4.”

“I think it’s Ginebra, San Mig, and Petron,” said Globalport’s Eric Arejola, who added defending champion Talk `N Text to his list, and of course, the Batang Pier as possible dark horse.

Although Reyes, also Sports5 TV head, acknowledged how Ginebra has become a completely different team this season, he said those which kept a solid core of lineup are still the ones to watch out for.

“On paper, Ginebra is the strongest, but games are played on woods,” said the Gilas Pilipinas mentor. "With that said, ang malakas talaga `yung matagal nang magkakasama and you have Talk `N Text and Rain or Shine. Of course, you can’t underestimate my good friend, Tim Cone and San Mig Coffee."

Ginebra governor and former chairman Robert Non said in jest it would really be good for the league especially in terms of gate receipts and television ratings, if the Kings will be able to end a five-year title drought.

But seriously, he said team chemistry will be the Kings’ major concern going to the season as only veterans Mark Caguioa, JayJay Helterbrand, and Billy Mamaril are the only holdovers from the last Ginebra team that won a championship in 2008.

“You can’t really tell until the team jells. You can’t say until the second phase of the tournament kung sino talaga `yung papunta dun. Sana nga kami `yun,” said Non, who nonetheless mentioned Globalport, Petron, and even Barako Bull as among the contending teams in the Philippine Cup.

Only vice-chairman Ely Capacio of Petron wasn’t around during the affair.

Here are the rest of the PBA governors’ picks.

Patrick Gregorio (Talk `N Text):  Ginebra, Petron, Meralco (darkhorse)

Lito Alvarez (Air21 ): Ginebra, Meralco, San Mig Coffee

Rene Pardo (San Mig Coffee): San Mig, Alaska, Rain or Shine

Mamerto Mondragon (Rain or Shine): Petron, San Mig, Ginebra, Rain or Shine (darkhorse)

Manny Mendoza (Barako Bull): Petron, Ginebra, San Mig, Talk `N Text (darkhorse)

From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

Lucio Tan's son rules out return to PBA, cites presence of San Miguel teams

TANDUAY Distillers is no longer entertaining the possibility of rejoining the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), according to president and chief executive officer Bong Tan.

And its long-standing corporate war with the San Miguel Group of Companies has something to do with it.

The son of tycoon Lucio Tan, who made a rare appearance at the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup games on Thursday to watch the Boracay Rum Waves play National University-Banco De Oro, was asked the question in the wake of the PBA's decision to open its doors to expansion teams.

However, Tan quickly shook his head. Asked to elaborate, he simply said, “May San Miguel.”

Tanduay Distillers is a sister company of Asia Brewery, a direct competitor of San Miguel Corporation in the beverage industry, although both companies have a stake in Philippine Airlines.

The influx of new talent from the both college and developmental leagues have prompted the PBA to consider adding at least two more teams to the current 10-team field over the next two years.

Commissioner Chito Salud even hinted on Wednesday during the press conference of the league’s 39th season that there are in the middle of talks with "serious prospects."

Tanduay was one of the founding PBA teams in 1975 when the company was still owned by the Elizalde family until the franchise disbanded in 1987.

Twelve years after, the company returned to the pro league under the leadership of Bong Tan following a successful stint in the defunct Philippine Basketball League where it won multiple championships. 

But the return stint of the company proved short-lived after the team got entangle in a web of controversies, eventually forcing Tan to sell the franchise to Bert Lina and FedEx by the end of the 2001 season.

Boracay Rum coach Lawrence Chongson, a person close to Tan, confirmed there are no talks within the company about the possible return of the Tanduay franchise to the PBA.

“Hindi napag-uusapan,” Chongson said.

Personally, however, the coach said he is open to Tanduay joining the pro league again after its stints in the PBL and being one of the pioneers in the PBA D-League.

“Pero ako, open ako. Ewan ko lang sa management. Pero kung ako lang, open ako,” said Chongson.

From SPIN.ph

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Douthit signs contract extension but Gilas still on lookout for new naturalized player

NATIONAL basketball team coach Chot Reyes said Marcus Douthit has been signed to a contract extension that will keep him with Gilas Pilipinas until next year’s Asian Games, but he admitted they are also on the lookout for another prospective big man as some form of 'insurance.'

Douthit’s new contract means Gilas Pilipinas will have a legitimate post threat against the continent’s best teams if the plan to send the star-studded team to Incheon, South Korea for the Asiad pushes through.

“Ni-renew na namin si Douthit and his contract is till Asian Games,” Reyes said.

“He’s going to be there (Asian Games), (extension but) whether it’s him, we’re gonna be using, that depends on whether, number one, will we find somebody better than him (Douthit) and number two, if we can get him (new prospect) through the natural process, so the best move for us is to sign him.”

The lookout for a backup naturalized big man makes sense, considering that Douthit is turning 34 by April 2014.

With age fast catching up and Douthit’s sitting out the latter part of the Fiba-Asia men’s basketball Finals last August because of injury, the need to find a younger big guy to fill in for the former Provident College center has become much more obvious.

With still nine months to go before the Fiba World Cup, Reyes said they are just happy to secure Douthit’s contract extension.

“Whatever happens for us, is we have a naturalized player,” he added.

The 6-foot-10 Douthit, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004 but never got to play in the NBA, averaged 11.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in the Fiba-Asia men’s championships last August.

He will be reinforcing the Gilas cadet squad next month when the Philippines tries to extend its basketball reign in the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.

From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

PBA attendance record set to fall as facelift expands Big Dome's seating capacity

A major facelift of the Smart-Araneta Coliseum has been completed in time for the 39th season of the PBA that opens shop on Sunday, making it more competitive against the newer Mall of Asia Arena.

A source told Spin.ph the Big Dome has added to its seating capacity, improved its facilities and done away with the lower box section to be able to expand the patron section and its more expensive seats.

“Yung lowerbox seats dati, wala na yun. Seats have been improved. Tapos it will be categorized as Patron A and B na,” said an official who requested that he not be named.

Although the Big Dome has a bigger capacity, the MOA Arena generates more revenue since it boasts of more premium seats such as the lower box and patron compared to the circumferentially designed of the Big Dome.

In the last Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Alaska and Ginebra, the 17,856 crowd at the Mall of Asia yielded P5.7 million in earnings, almost double the amount gained by the record-breaking 23,436 crowd at Araneta Coliseum during Game Three of the semifinals that only netted P3.5 million.

“That’s the aim. We want to be competitive in terms of returns sa mga clients namin. With the present set-up kasi mas maliit `yung price level,” said the source, who bared Araneta Coliseum will also install state-of-the-art seats at the venue for more viewing pleasure.

With the new set-up, Araneta officials are optimistic breaking the current PBA game attendance will be more doable.

“Madadagdagan kasi ng seats eh, so we can accommodate more fans inside the coliseum,” said the source, who also take pride in the new look of the Big Dome’s façade.

Aside from this, fans also get to experience world class viewing with the venue’s refurbished comfort rooms, new and improved galleries, as well as the arrival of new food concessionaires.

The coliseum has already improved the dugout facilities, where 42-inch LCD monitors have been installed.

From SPIN.ph

[kingjames24szupladoh]

2013-2014 PBA Muses :

* Air21 - Lauren Young

* Alaska - Mutya ng Davao 2013, Miss Fila Guia Hidalgo

* Barako Bull - Tereza Fajksova

* Ginebra - Marian Rivera

* Globalport - Maxene Magalona

* Meralco - Sophie Albert and Stephanie Rowe

* Petron - Gretchen Ho

* Rain or Shine - 2013 Mutya ng Asia Pacific, Koreen Medina

* San Mig Coffee - Isabel Oli

* Talk 'N Text - Chanel Morales and Danielle Montano Lee

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PBA preview: Meralco Bolts power up with rejigged team built to win in the present

Meralco Bolts

2012-2013 record: 23-24

Head coach: Ryan Gregorio

Rookie: none

Offseason additions: AJ Mandani, Nelbert Omolon, Gary David, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Kerby Raymundo

Gone from last season: Chris Ross, Chris Timberlake, Noy Baclao, Macmac Cardona, Jay-Arr Reyes, Josh Vanlandingham, Allan Mangahas

Holdovers: John Wilson, Cliff Hodge, Don Carlos Allado, Mike Cortez, Paul Artadi, Jared Dillinger, Reynel Hugnatan, Rey Guevarra, James Sena, Sunday Salvacion

Reserve: Kerby Raymundo

Strengths: Meralco opens with its most impressive lineup since entering the league in 2010 - the product of several deals coach Ryan Gregorio pulled off from last season that should give him his best shot at a championship since leaving Purefoods.

The arrival of key acquisitions Kerby Raymundo, Gary David and Rabeh Al-Hussaini is a sign that the Bolts did not build up for the future - they didn't take in a single rookie - but to win in the present.

The Bolts' starting five look impressive on paper. They are studded with top-quality players in every position, from Al-Hussaini at center to Raymundo or Reynel Hugnatan at the four spot to sophomore Cliff Hodge or Jared Dillinger at No. 3 to David at the off-guard spot and Mike Cortez at the point.

When the Bolts made the Final Four for the first time in their short history in the last Governors Cup, it came as a pleasant surprise for the team's officials and supporters. But this rebuilt team can be counted upon to not just make the playoffs but also go deep in the playoffs.

Weakness: The Bolts will need to have everyone clicking if they are to go all the way, but some of the players counted upon to deliver this season each have question marks beginning with Raymundo, who may no longer be the same player that won three championships with Gregorio at Purefoods.

The 6-5 pride of Orion, Bataan, in fact, is starting his first season at Meralco on the injured list as he is currently in the US to undergo strengthening on his right knee, which had slowed him down in his final conference with Ginebra last season.

Then there is Al-Hussaini, who has failed to stick with every team he has been with in a journeyman career. His reunion, in fact, with former college coach Norman Black at Talk 'N Text didn't last long. Now the former Ateneo star will have to prove doubters wrong if Meralco expects to be a top contender this season.

Season outlook: Gregorio has no doubt the right mixture of veterans and upcoming stars which, if it can all come together, can give Meralco a chance this season. But the problem is, Meralco's team looks so ordinary when ranged against the lineups of the league's elite.

Gregorio needs to once again weave his coaching magic to pull off a title out of his hat.

Power ranking


From SPIN.ph

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PBA preview: Barako Bull wastes golden opportunity and takes another step backwards

Barako Bull

2012-2013 record: 13-25

Head coach: Bong Ramos

Rookies: Jeric Fortuna and Carlo Lastimosa

Offseason additions: Robert Labagala, Dennis Miranda, Willie Miller, Mark Isip, Willy Wilson, Rico Maierhofer

Gone from last season: Celino Cruz, Shawn Weinstein, Eman Monfort, Enrico Villanueva, Danny Seigle, Elmer Espiritu, Gilbert Bulawan

Holdovers: Mick Pennisi, Dorian Pena, Jonas Villanueva, JC Intal, Ronjay Buenafe, Dave Marcelo, Keith Jensen, Mark Macapagal

Reserve: Carlo Lastimosa (rookie), Rico Maierhofer

Strengths: No team has attracted more scorn in the offseason than Barako Bull, which put to waste a major opportunity to rebuild by inexplicably trading away three precious first-round picks.

Instead of dipping its hands into one of the deepest and most talented drafts in recent years and becoming a team of the future, Barako Bull acted like it had consistently done in the past and rekindled past accusations that it is no more than a 'farm team' for the San Miguel-owned teams.

Not only did it waste a good opportunity to move forward, it also taken severals steps backwards by trading away some of the few good players in had in Eman Monfort and Rico Villanueva and giving former national coach Rajko Toroman the boot.

This should be about the 'strengths' of Barako Bull, yet the only positive from all these controversial transactions is that the team ended up with an overload of veteran players who are capable of winning this season instead of a young team that will need some time to mature.

Other than that, there isn't a lot of positives to Barako's moves.

Weakness: A close look at Barako Bull's roster reveals it has six players  33 years old or older. Big men Mick Pennisi and Dorian Pena are now 38 and 36, respectively, while former two-time league MVP Willie Miller is also at the twilight of his career at 36.

That easily puts to question the team’s ability to match up against younger and quicker teams like Petron, Barangay Ginebra, Rain or Shine, and even defending champion Talk ‘N Text.

Head coach Bong Ramos, who took over from Toroman, admits he has only two options with his present roster: play the half-court set to preserve the legs of his veterans, or try to push the pace by gambling on their few young players like sophomore Keith Jensen, rookie Jeric Fortuna, shooter Ronjay Buenafe and Robert Labagala, who the team acquired in the Monfort trade.

Season outlook: Barako Bull may still pull off surprises here and there, but unless management makes a serious effort to invest long term in a core of young, talented players, the Energy Cola will never be taken seriously in theis league. The team should be happy if it makes the playoffs this season.

Power ranking:


From SPIN.ph

[kingjames24szupladoh]

2013-2014 Philippine Cup Complete Player Lineups :


SEE HERE

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PBA preview: Stability its biggest asset as Petron moves to relive glory days

Petron Blaze

2012-2013 record: 29-23

Head coach: Gelacio 'Gee' Abanilla

Rookie: none

Offseason additions: Chris Ross, Yousef Taha

Gone from last season: Dennis Miranda, Magi Sison, Mark Isip, Danny Ildefonso

Holdovers: Alex Cabagnot, Chris Lutz, Jason Deutchman, Paolo Hubalde, Marcio Lassiter, Douglas Kramer, June Mar Fajardo, Chico Lanete, Arwind Santos, Ronald Tubid

Reserve: none

Strengths: Except for a little house cleaning, Petron made very little movement in the offseason. And why wouldn't it? The Blaze Boosters already own hands-down the most complete lineup in the league - one teeming with talent in every position and versatile players like Arwind Santos and Chris Lutz who can play multiple positions.

Even with just 12 players in its roster heading to the new season, Petron is already complete. The team has completed the transition from the Danny Ildefonso-Olsen Racela-Danny Seigle glory days to a team now relying on a whole new set of young, dynamic, and talented players.

With the way the lineup looks, Petron, it seemed, has even leapfrogged the Arwind Santos era and headed straight to a new generation of players led by Marcio Lassiter, Lutz, and sophomore June Mar Fajardo. It's now their time to shine.

Even Chris Ross suddenly looked like a nice pick-up, since he is expected to shine in a team that doesn't need him to score. Unlike at Meralco where his limited offensive moves made him a liability in the point guard position, Ross should have a field day setting up Petron's armada of scorers.

Weakness: If there is one small hole in Petron's lineup, it should be the power-forward position. But the Boosters may not need a dominant guy in the four spot if Fajardo continues to dominate inside the paint like he did in the last Governors Cup Finals against San Mig where he averaged 18.7 points and 14.7 rebounds.

Aside from that, Santos, at this stage in his career, should be better off in the four position than popping jumpers from the perimeter.

Season outlook: Petron doesn't need more good players; what this team needs is stability after a tumultuous stretch where it transitioned from Rajko Toroman to Olsen Racela to Gee Abanilla.

Abanilla, a soft-spoken former La Salle guard who never fails to preach the team concept, seemed like the kind of coach that can lend stability to this team. But he still needs to show that he can keep this team together when the chips are down.

With less Petronovela and more Fajardo, expect Petron to finally end a long championship drought before the season is over.

Rating: 4.5


From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

PBA Preview: Challenge for reloaded Ginebra is on how to put pieces together

Barangay Ginebra

2012-2013 record: 24-28

Head coach: Renato Agustin

Rookies: James Forrester, Greg Slaughter

Offseason free-agent additions: Bryan Faundo, Emman Monfort, Jay-R Reyes

Gone from last season: Willy Wilson, Rico Maierhofer, Kerby Raymundo

Holdovers: Billy Mamaril, Joshua Urbiztondo, LA Tenorio, Jayjay Helterbrand, Japeth Aguilar, Dylan Ababou, Chris Ellis, Mac Baracael, Mark Caguioa

Reserves: None

Strengths: Not since the glory days of Robert Jaworski's last few teams at Ginebra - one studded with stars like Marlou  Aquino, Noli Locsin, and Bal David - have the Gin Kings stirred this much excitement in the offseason than they had this year.

The league's most popular team struck gold in the rookie draft when it won the top pick overall in a lottery then used it to tab Greg Slaughter, a six-foot-11 find from Cebu who gives Ginebra the dominant big man it has not had since the peak of Aquino and Eric Menk's careers.

That's not all. The Gin Kings also maneuvered to get Fil-Canadian James Forrester by trading for the No. 4 pick overall on Draft Day, pulled off a trade for point guard Eman Monfort, then boosted their frontline with two more acquisitions in Jay-R Reyes and Bryan Faundo.

From a mid-sized team constantly pounded inside by the opposition, Ginebra has turned into one of the tallest teams in the league. Another upside to Slaughter's arrival is that it allows Japeth Aguilar to slide down to his favored four spot where there will be no pressure on him to play with his back to the basket. No wonder the enigmatic big man looks as happy as he has ever been in his career.

The benefits of a new 'Twin Towers' tandem is also expected to cascade into Ginebra's crack guards, who should have more confidence with their shots knowing they have two of the biggest players in the league to go for the rebound in case they miss.

Weaknesses: As in most star-studded teams, the challenge is on how to put the pieces together and turn it into a winning unit. This early, there are warning signs that players like Mac Baracael, Josh Urbiztondo, and Billy Mamaril are bound to get lost in the shuffle. Ginebra must find a way to keep them productive and happy.

Also, Ginebra's 'Twin Towers' may raise a lot of excitement, but both Slaughter and Aguilar have a reputation for being 'soft' players. On how the two will respond to the constant banging inside will dictate how far Ginebra will go this season.

Season outlook: The bigger question for Ginebra should be, is Ato Agustin the man to bring this star-studded team together? The former PBA MVP is himself new to this team and has relatively little coaching experience, but it takes a lot of wise, subtle moves to keep a team like this humming amid all the pressure of the suddenly heightened expectations.

If Agustin proves up to the task, and if his top players stay healthy, Ginebra fans should have a giant party before this season is over.

Power rating: 4.5 stars


From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

PBA preview: San Mig addresses the 'now' and the future with rookie signings

San Mig Coffee

2012-2013 record: 38-26

Head coach: Timothy Cone

Rookie: Ian Sangalang, Isaac Holstein, JR Cawaling, Justin Melton

Offseason free-agent additions: none

Gone from last season: Jewel Ponferrada

Holdovers: Rafi Reavis, Peter June Simon, James Yap, Alex Mallari, Mark Barroca, Marc Pingris, Jerwin Gaco, Val Acuna, Yancy de Ocampo, Jerwin Gaco

Reserves: Lester Alvarez, Allein Maliksi

Strengths: For a team that is coming off its 10th franchise championship, San Mig Coffee didn't find the need to make over its lineup this season. But what it did was undergo a facelift, using its draft picks wisely to prepare for a transition from the James Yap era which may not be too long from now.

That the Mixers finished in the Top Four in all four conferences last season before ending its season with a bang by bagging the Governors Cup championship shows the team will remain a major force in the league, notwithstanding the decline in Yap's game and the advancing age of their core.

There's no reason to fear that guys like Yap, PJ Simon, Marc Pingris, and Rafi Reavis will suddenly turn into pushovers this season. But at the same time, astute moves both in the draft and the free-agent market last season give Tim Cone a pool of players like Ian Sangalang, Alex Mallari, Mark Barroca, Lester Alvarez, Allein Maliksi, Justin Melton and Isaac Holstein to develop for the future.

Weakness: The steady decline in the numbers of Yap the past three seasons (from 18.7 ppg. in 2011, to 16.7 ppg. in 2012 to 13.3 ppg. in 2013) means the Mixers need to find a new go-to-guy, yet there's no one in its team that fits the bill at the moment.

Last season, it was already Pingris that looked more the franchise player than Yap. But Pingris, too, has been overworked and feeling the strain of the constant pounding inside the lane. So the sooner San Mig can prepare for the transition, the better.

Season outlook: With the arrival of Sangalang and Co., San Mig managed to get better now while preparing for the future. In the 6-5 Sangalang, Cone also got a player considered as the most 'PBA-ready' among this year's batch of rookies. That alone will make the Mixers' main rotation a player deep going into the new season.

So expect the team to be in the title frame in each of the three conferences this season looking to add to Cone's growing trophy collection.

Power rating: 4


From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

PBA preview: By standing still, Alaska faces greater odds against better teams

Alaska Milk Aces

2012-2013 record: 35-20

Head coach: Luigi Trillo

Rookie: Ryan Buenafe, Chris Eximiniano

Offseason free-agent additions: Leo Avenido

Gone from last season: none

Holdovers: Cyrus Baguio, Sonny Thoss, JV Casio, Calvin Abueva, RJ Jazul, Tony dela Cruz, Sam Eman, Eddie Laure, Nic Belasco, Aldrech Ramos, Dondon Hontiveros, Gabby Espinas

Reserves: Paolo Bugia and Raffy Reyes

Strengths: Alaska is happy with its current team. Its core is young, deep, and complete; the bench is a perfect mix of veteran players and youngters out to prove themselves in the league while Luigi Trillo and the rest of the coaching staff have little problem reining the team in.

Thats' the recipe which the Aces hope will be good enough to keep them in the league elite this season, especially in the Philippine Cup where the team that had to make the minimal adjustments usually end up on top. Add to that Calvin Abueva, a sophomore who is expected to be most effective without having to contend with imports in an all-Filipino tournament.

Rookies Ryan Buenafe and Chris Eximinano as well as Leo Avenido - a free-agent pick-up from the ABL - should also blend seamlessly with the rest of the Aces.

Weakness: Alaska, no doubt, has a good team. But while the Aces stood still, their rivals in the top half of the league's hierarchy became a lot better with Barangay Ginebra getting Greg Slaughter, San Mig signing Ian Sangalang, Rain or Shine acquiring Raymond Almazan and Petron having a June Mar Fajardo who is expected to be even better in his sophomore.

The result? Alaska suddenly looks like a mid-sized team with a frontline that will largely depend on 6-7 Sonny Thoss, Abueva and Gabby Espinas inside. That should be a problem in the all-Filipino tournament but may be solved by the arrival of a big import in the next two conferences.

Aside from that, the element of surprise is now gone for the Aces, who will be one of the teams targetted by the opposition this season.

Season outlook: Alaska is good enough to make the Final Four in the Philippine Cup. On how far they go after that will depend on whether Trillo can once again weave the magic he had last season.

Power rating: 4 stars


From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

PBA preview: Major leap for Globalport, but how fast can young team put act together

Globalport Batang Pier

Head coach: Ritchie Ticzon

Rookies: Terrence Romeo, Ryan Roose “RR” Garcia, Justin Chua, Nico Salva, LA Revilla

Gone from last season: Gary David, AJ Mandani, Bryan Faundo, Hans Thiele, Willie Miller

Off season additions: Jewel Ponferrada, Leo Najorda, Enrico Villanueva, Eric Menk

Holdovers: Sol Mercado, Jay Washington, Jaypee Belencion, Kelly Nabong, Jondan Salvador, Marvin Hayes,

Strengths: Globalport is one of the busiest teams during the offseason, which was understandable for a team that won a grand total of seven games during its maiden season in the pro league.

But unlike Barako Bull, the Mikee Romero-owned franchise made some of the most impressive moves that turned the Batang Pier into one of the most impressive teams, at least on paper.

Altthough it lost two major pieces from last season in Gary David and Willie Miller, the arrival of rookies Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia, Justin Chua (all first-round picks), Nico Salva, and LA Revilla as well as veterans Rico Villanueva and Eric Menk to add to holdovers Sol Mercado and Jay Washington make Globalport loaded in almost every position except the two spot.

Weakness: Globalport made so many changes that it may be too much to handle, especially for a rookie coach in Richie Ticzon that has had very little experience.

The team also needs a veteran leader who can be the steadying presence that could help the Batang Pier put their act together on the floor. Romero can only hope Mercado or Washington are mature enough for that role - or rookies like Garcia mature fast enough to take on that challenge.

Globalport's frontline may be impressive with the likes of Villanueva, Washington, Chua, and Menk, but its two-guard spot looks shaky without David and Miller - unless Romeo makes an immediate impact for the team. The dearth may force Mercado to slide back to the two spot after playing point guard in Junel Baculi's final conference as Globalport coach.

Season outlook: It may be too optimistic to expect a young, rejigged squad to make its mark in the season-opening Philippine Cup. But depending on the success of the Ticzon gamble, Globalport has the pieces to be a contender in the playoffs in the long run.

Power ranking: 3.5


From SPIN.ph