PBA: With rosters submitted, teams brace for the start of the Philippine Cup

The 39th season of the Philippine Basketball Association will open on November 17 with three games in Manila, Cebu, and Davao, and for this season's Philippine Cup, teams were allowed to have 14 players, instead of 13, in their active line-up.

Coached by Franz Pumaren, the Air21 Express will be trotting out a line-up composed of Vic Manuel, Mark Cardona, KG Canaleta, Simon Atkins, Eric Camson, Bonbon Custodio, Renren Ritualo, Carlo Sharma, Joseph Yeo, Wynne Arboleda, Ogie Menor, Elmer Espiritu, Mike Burtscher, and Asi Taulava.

Luigi Trillo, fresh off winning the PBA Press Corps Coach of the Year Award, has Sam Eman, Cyrus Baguio, Ping Exciminiano, Sonny Thoss, Calvin Abueva, Eddie Laure, Ryan Buenafe, Aldrech Ramos, Leo Avenido, Dondon Hontiveros, Gabby Espinas, RJ Jazul, Tony Dela Cruz, and Jvee Casio in his Alaska Aces roster.

After trimming their bloated roster, Barako Bull Energy Cola's final line-up features Dennis Miranda, Jonas Villanueva, Dorian Pena, JC Intal, Ronjay Buenafe, Rob Lebagala, Dave Marcelo, Willie Miller, Mark Isip, Jeric Fortuna, William Wilson, Keith Jensen, Mark Macapagal, and Mick Pennisi under head coach Bong Ramos.

Barangay Gienbra San Miguel submitted a line-up bannered by bigs Greg Slaughter, Billy Mamaril, Japeth Aguilar, Bryan Faundo, and JayR Reyes. Their swingmen are James Forrester, Chris Ellis, Dylan Ababou, and Mac Baracael. Josh Urbiztondo, LA Tenorio, Emman Monfort, Mark Caguioa, and Jayjay Helterbrand will man their backcourt.

GlobalPort Batang Pier started their youth movement with rookies RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo, Nico Salva, Justin Chua, and LA Revilla in the line-up along with rookie head coach Richie Ticzon. Sol Mercado, Jondan Salvador, Jay Washington, Marvin Hayes, Leo Najorda, Jewel Ponferada, Jaypee Belencion, Kelly Nabong, and the returning Eric Menk are their veterans.

The Meralco Bolts also have a new-look team under head coach Ryan Gregorio. PBA scoring champion Gary David will team up with AJ Mandani, Nelbert Omolon, John Wilson, Cliff Hodge, Don Allado, Mike Cortez, Paul Artadi, Jared Dillinger, Reynel Hugnatan, Rey Guevarra, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, James Sena, and Sunday Salvacion.

After narrowly losing in the 2013 PBA Governors' Cup Finals, the Petron Blaze Boosters submitted a lean 12-man roster with Chris Lutz, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross, Jason Deutchman, Paulo Hubalde, Marcio Lassiter, Doug Kramer, June Mar Fajardo, Chico Lanete, Yousef Taha, Arwind Santos, and Ronald Tubid. They will still be lead by head coach Gee Abanilla.

Raian or Shine has Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Jireh Ibanes, Jeric Teng, Alex Nuyles, Larry Rodriguez, TY Tang, Jeff Chan, Chris Tiu, Ryan Arana, Jervy Cruz, Beau Belga, Ronnie Mattias, and JR Quiñahan, under head coach Yeng Guiao.

Fresh off their recent championship, the San Mig Coffee Mixers have Justin Melton, Rafi Reavis, Isaac Holstein, JR Cawaling, PJ Simon, Ian Sangalang, Alex Mallari, Mark Barroca, Marc Pingris, Jerwin Gaco, Val Acuña, Joe Devance, Yancy de Ocampo, and James Yap. Head coach Tim Cone will be gunning for his 16th title, to eclipse the legendary Baby Dalupan's record.

The defending champions Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters hope to return to their old form with the return of Kelly Williams. They also have Jimmy Alapag, Harvey Carey, Eliud Poligrates, Nonoy Baclao, Ryan Reyes, Sean Anthony, Larry Fonacier, Jai Reyes, Jayson Castro, John Ferriols, Ranidel de Ocampo, Ali Peek, and Aaron Aban. Under Norman Black, they will be gunning for their fourth straight Philippine Cup championship.

Notable omissions in the line-ups include veterans Danny Seigle and Danny Ildefonso. Both former members of multiple San Miguel Beer champion teams had expiring contracts last season and so far, they have not signed new deals to continue their legendary careers.

Also absent from the Rain or Shine roster is Raymund Almazan, the third pick of the 2013 PBA Draft. However, he will quickly be included after the NCAA Finals.

The ten teams have been divided into two groups. Group A has Air21, Alaska, Ginebra, Rain or Shine, and Petron. Group B has Barako Bull, GlobalPort, Meralco, San Mig Coffee and Talk 'N Text.

The teams will battle their groupmates once and the teams in the other group twice for a total of 14 games. The top eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals with the top two squads having a twice-to-beat advantage. The middle teams will figure in a best-of-three series.

The semis and the finals will then have best-of-seven series. - AMD, GMA News