PBA: Import-laced Commissioner's Cup opens with Friday doubleheader

Imports take center stage Friday when the PBA Commissioner's Cup opens with a doubleheader at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Powerhouse B-MEG collides with Meralco in the 7:30 p.m. main game, while Alaska takes on Barako Bull in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser. All eyes will definitely be on B-MEG, the Philippine Cup top seed, as the Llamados play their first game in the league after being shown the exit door by No. 8 Powerade Tigers in the quarterfinals. The game also marks the first time B-MEG will be without star player Kerby Raymundo, whom the team traded during the season break for Ginebra's JC Intal. "First game. It's a sprint. There's no time to warm up. Slow start in the conference is out of the question. We hope to be ready and raring to go," said Llamados' coach Tim Cone, who will have Denzel Bowles for import. Bowles goes up against Jarrid Famous, a late replacement by Meralco after original choice Jelani McCoy got injured. Famous arrived just three days before the start of the second conference. "Hopefully, he can adjust well to how we run things," said Meralco mentor Ryan Gregorio. Meralco parades new acquisitions Mark Canlas, Dennis Daa and Paul Artadi after giving up Mark Isip, Nelbert Omolon and Chico Lanete in separate trades with Air21 and Barako Bull, respectively. "It's interesting to see Chris Ross and Artadi play our back-court," Gregorio said. "With them, we will definitely be quicker." The Bolts, however, will miss Sol Mercado's services as the ace gunner underwent knee surgery and will be out for two more weeks. Alaska, meanwhile, brings back old hand Adam Parada for its import in the conference which sees the franchise finally shedding away from its patented Triangle Offense. "We had a meeting and we decided that it's time to move on and forget about the Triangle," said star point guard L.A. Tenorio. "Now, we will be going to embrace the free-wheeling system just like the one Rain or Shine plays." The Aces are up against a Barako Bull team that has tapped NBA veteran DerMarr Johnson. "Magaling ang import ng Barako, we played them in a tune-up,” said Tenorio. Johnson was picked sixth overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2000 NBA Draft, but never got a flourishing career in the league after suffering a vehicular accident in 2002. "DJ Johnson can help us a lot in getting Ws (wins)," said Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi, whose team acquired Ronald Tubid and Reil Cervantes after trading away rookie Dylan Ababou. — JVP/KG, GMA News