Games Today:
(Araneta Coliseum)
4:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs. Alaska
6:30 p.m. – Petron vs. Ginebra

WHEN Chris Alexander first came and saw the PBA in 2008, he conquered.

Today, four years after, Ginebra just hopes that very little has changed on the 7-foot-1 import.

The league’s most popular team parades a somewhat modified local roster but with an old and familiar reinforcement in Alexander, going through an immediate acid test when it clashes with Petron in its PBA Commissioner’s Cup debut tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings decided to build up their ageing roster in the off-season, acquiring low-post specialist Kerby Raymundo from B-Meg and rookie scorer Dylan Ababou from Barako Bull. It would be interesting to see how these two guys fare on their new ball club aching to bounce back after a disappointing campaign in the Philippine Cup.

“It would be exciting to see how we measure up with one of the top teams in the league,” said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen. “Cohesion would be crucial for us especially with the new guys we have.”

Ginebra didn’t actually have a memorable season-opening performance.

After making the playoffs, the Kings were swept in the quarter-finals by Rain or Shine, which incidentally also sees action today against Alaska in the 4:15 opener.

Yet the man everyone wants to see is Alexander, the notorious shot-blocker who perennially provides an intimidating and dominating presence inside the shaded lane. He led the Kings to the 2008 Fiesta Conference championship, beating the Air21 Express in seven epic games including the historic Game Seven duel in terms of crowd attendance.

There is, however, seems to be a sort of a problem.

Mark Caguioa told the media Wednesday that Alexander is not at his finest game shape, meaning that it would require Ginebra’s local crew to step up if ever the Kings’ reinforcement doesn’t deliver much.

“Medyo hindi pa maganda ang kundisyon ni Chris,” Caguioa said. “And we all know that the import is the key in this tournament. But we, the locals, will try our best.”

Like Ginebra, Petron had one of its most disappointing conferences ever in the Philippine Cup. The Boosters were one victory away from advancing to the championships after erecting a 3-1 lead over Talk ‘N Text in the semi-finals, but just couldn’t put the Texters away.

As a result, Petron lost a 3-1 series lead for the first time ever in franchise history.

The Boosters have acquired Nick Fazekas to carry their campaign. Fazekas has been described as an excellent shooter with a solid offensive repertoire, a high-percentage free-throw shooter with a length that makes him a decent rebounder and shot blocker.         He stands 6-11,  and last played in the NBA D-League with Reno, averaging 18.5 points and 8.2 rebounds.

Alaska, meantime, seeks to bounce back after absorbing a lopsided 98-78 thumping from Barako Bull on opening night. The Aces were held to just 37 percent shooting from the field for the game and just had a 26 percent clip in the third quarter, the stretch where the Energy broke away.

They will be confronting the Elasto Painters, who will debut with the shortest import in town in Willard Crews.

Crews is a 6-8 import, but his size belies his offensive game. He last played in Uruguay with Cader and suited up for 21 games. He averaged 23.5 points and 10.7 rebounds, the kind of statistics Rain or Shine needs to complement its free-wheeling, open-court game.

Crews wasn’t actually the first import of choice by the Painters. But the franchise decided to cut NBA veteran Jake Voskuhl because of his lack of offensive game.

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao will now challenge his former import, Adam Parada, who in 2008 played for Red Bull.

Parada debuted with 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Aces, but got minimal support from the local line-up.