Games on Feb. 10: (Araneta Coliseum)
5:15 p.m. – Barako Bull vs. Alaska
7:30 p.m. – B-Meg vs. Meralco

B-Meg  begins a new franchise chapter without  premier power-forward Kerby Raymundo eight days from now, seeing action right on the opening day of the import-spiced PBA Commissioner’s Cup  on Feb. 10 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Llmados, the No. 1 seeded team in the Philippine Cup eliminations only to be beaten by Powerade in the quarter-finals, goes up against the Meralco Bolts in a match-up serving as the main event of a double-header that also pits Barako Bull and Alaska in the opener.

“With Kerby leaving, it’s the end of an era,” said coach Tim Cone. “We will miss his skills and professionalism. I wish he would have stayed with us.”

Raymundo was one of the youngest players ever to turn pro, and he suited up for the B-Meg franchise since 2002 from Red Bull. But he was traded in a three-team, five-player deal and ended up with Ginebra, which sees action on Feb. 12 against sister-team Petron.

The Llamados acquired athletic JC Intal from the Kings and a future pick from Barako Bull in return, and Cone is already excited about the partnership that the pact has created when Intal is paired with two-time MVP James Yap on the floor.

“JC brings youth, athleticism, and much-needed defense to our line-up,” said Cone. “He’ll make a great pairing with James. We’re excited to start a new era.”

B-Meg was one of the favored ball clubs in the Philippine Cup. But its lofty billing came crashing down when Powerade, led by scoring champion Gary David, overcame a twice-to-beat disadvantage to advance to semi-finals.

The Tigers eventually finished runner-up in the tournament behind Talk ‘N Text, which became the first franchise in 27 years to repeat as all-Filipino champions.

The Llamados, who will have Denzel Bowles as import, obviously wouldn’t like a repeat disaster, and the game against the Bolts certainly will give them a gauge over how far they’ve developed as a team trying to perfect the Triangle Offense Cone adores.

Bowles is a player who saw action for Siaulia for 14 games in three tournaments. He was best during the 2011-12 Baltic League wherein he averaged 19.3 points and 7.5 rebounds.

To be reinforced by Jelani McCoy, Meralco will no longer have Mark Isip and Nelbert Omolon in its roster. The two had been shipped to Air21 in exchange for Mark Canlas, Dennis Daa and a 2012 first-round pick.

Like B-Meg, Alaska, too, would love to forget its unmemorable campaign in the season-opening conference.

The Aces, along with winless Air21, were the ones eliminated after the preliminary stage.

Alaska will pin its hopes on import Matt Haryasz, while Barako Bull, who lost Dylan Ababou in the Raymundo trade and acquired Ronald Tubid and Reil Cervantes in return, will parade Dermarr Johnson.

The Aces will also see action on Feb. 12, facing Rain or Shine. The Elasto Painters will parade NBA veteran Jake Voskuhl.

Voskuhl, 34, played for five NBA teams before – La Clippers, Dallas, Toronto, Milwaukee and Charlotte.

Haryasz, on the other hand, is a Stanford product and played in Israel, Europe (Belgiu, Italy, and Germany) and in the US D-League.