Games Tomorrow (Araneta Coliseum)

5:15 p.m. – Alaska vs. Barako Bull
7:30 p.m. – Meralco vs. B-Meg


DEFENDING champion Talk ‘N Text may have the local roster depth, and so are B-Meg, Petron and perhaps, Ginebra.

But success in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup will still boil down to which ball club has the import who can contribute on both ends and adapt soonest.

Mark Caguioa of Ginebra, scoring champion Gary David of Powerade, Meralco’s Mark Cardona, Alaska’s LA Tenorio and Ren-Ren Ritualo of Air21 all were one in saying that the imports will hold the key over how deep a franchise can go in the short second conference that kicks off tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Depende sa import ‘yan,” replied Caguioa when asked about which team he thinks would dominate the Commissioner’s Cup. “Maski magagaling local players mo pero hindi naman nakaka-contribute import mo, bale wala rin.”   

Chemistry will also be a big factor, according to the Ginebra superstar.

“You can have all the kinds of players in a team but if chemistry is not there, it’s going to be hard,” said Caguioa during AKTV’s media conference for the upcoming tournament.

How important is chemistry between the imports and the locals? Very important.

The Commissioner’s Cup, unlike the Philippine Cup, will be one short conference. The elimination round only calls for a single-round robin affair or nine games, and four teams will be eliminated right away from advancing to the playoffs.

The top two teams in the eliminations will gain outright berths in the semi-finals, with the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth-ranked teams figuring in the best-of-three quarter-finals. The semi-finals will be a best-of-five and the Finals a best-of-seven.

This early, it appears like Barako Bull and Petron have the slight edge in reinforcements.

“In my observation, maganda ang pinakita ‘nung import ng Barako Bull and Petron,” said Tenorio.

Barako Bull will have DerMarr Johnson, a sixth pick overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA draft in 2000. His NBA career was heavily affected when he suffered a vertebral body fracture after figuring in a car accident in 2002.

The Boosters, on the other hand, have acquired Nicholas Fazekas, a 6-11 player who was one of only six players in US NCAA history to collect 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.        David, the Powerade scoring sensation, for his part decided to elude questions regarding the Marcio Lassiter trade to Petron and the franchise’s sale to San Miguel Corp.   

“Management decision ‘yan,” said David.

The other imports seeing action in the Commissioner’s Cup are: Dwayne Jones (Powerade), Duke Crews (Rain Meantime or Shine), Jelani McCoy (Meralco), Chris Alexander (Ginebra), Denzel Bowles (B-Meg). Omar Samhan (Talk ‘N Text), Marcus Douthit (Air21) and Adam Parada (Alaska).