New team Pharex to take on San Mig Coffee in PBL opener

Games on Saturday 20 October 2007 The Arena, San Juan 1 p.m. РOpening ceremony 2 p.m. РPharex vs. San Mig Coffee 4 p.m. РBacchus vs. Toyota Balintawak San Mig Coffee will have the opportunity to size up newcomer Pharex when the two squads formally kick off the First Conference of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Saturday at The Arena in San Juan. According to a PBL statement on Friday, the Coffee Kings, under coach Koy Banal, are considered to be among the strongest title contenders with its lineup being boosted by the new draftees Kelvin de la Pe̱a, a Mapua Cardinals guard and NCAA Most Valuable Player of 2007, and Clifford Arao, an Ateneo Blue Eagles center. Pharex is also a collection of young talents with a sprinkling of veterans coached by Gian Carlo Lai Tan. The team is banking on Mapua playmaker Sean Co and University of the East big man Elmer Espiritu to carry the cudgels for the rookie ball club. "We'll definitely run and look to share the ball more often," Tan said. Tan has patterned the Medics' plays to the European style of basketball. The San Mig Coffee-Pharex tussle is set at 2 p.m., shortly after the lively and colorful opening ceremony prepared by the PBL and Solar Sports, which is covering the event. Guest of honor in the hour-long activity are members of the Special Olympics team, whom PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad will introduce, while incoming PBL chairman Cecilio Pedro of Hapee Toothpaste will deliver the opening remarks. San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito gets to do the ceremonial toss. Entertainment will be provided by the PBL Dancers and top bands Bloomfields, Blueketchup, and Protein Shake. Toyota Balintawak Road Kings, bannered by Letran hotshot Rafael Jazul and UAAP finals co-MVPs Jayvee Casio and Cholo Villanueva, both of them De La Salle Green Archers, take on the comebacking Bacchus Energy Raiders in the main game at 4 p.m. The Road Kings have to cope with the loss of Fil-Am big man Joe Devance, who was picked No. 1 overall in the last PBA Rookie Draft, along with Dennis Daa and Christian Coronel. "That's a very big shoe to fill in," Vanguardia said of the Devance, the 6-foot-6 former University of Texas in El Paso player. "But the good thing in this conference is that the field is pretty balanced and I believe that it will boil down to who wants it more," the Road Kings coach said. Bacchus Energy is returning to the league after its forgettable stint two years ago. This is time it has stocked up on talent by recruiting James Martinez, Hans Thiele, Mark Fampulme, and Pari Llagas Рall from the University of the East Red Warriors who finished runner-up to the Green Archers in this year's UAAP men's basketball finals. "We had less than a month's practice as a team kaya hindi pa talaga familiar `yung mga players," Bacchus coach Lawrence Chongson said. "But having at least the core of the UE team around, will make it easier for us to adjust." Chongson also has Red Warriors Robert Labagala and Angelus Raymundo at his disposal. Harbour Centre, seeking a fourth straight championship, won't see action until the next playing day on Tuesday, when they face the national men's team, the league's guest team. The Batang Pier make their debut against the Nationals in the opener of a doubleheader at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym. Hapee Toothpaste, with highly-touted Fil-Am guard Gabe Norwood at the helm, plays Mail & More in the second game on Tuesday. - GMANews.TV