The new, bigger, and better Pilipinas Super League unfolded late Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, highlighted by a star-studded opening.
From Bamboo, who took center stage, to movie and television personalities Yukii Takahasi, comedians Bearwin Meily and Long Mejia, and former players-turned actors Benjie Paras and Big Mac Andaya spicing up the festivities, the PSL, under the stewardship of new commissioner Philippine Basketball Association Hall of Famer Allan Caidic and league president Cris Bautista, is bracing for a more promising season.
Taking his first major role as the head of the league, Caidic declared the games open.
This will be ‘The Trigger Man’s’ first executive role since last becoming the team manager of Coca-Cola, which was then under San Miguel Corporation, in 2004.
“The good thing about this league is we have 20 teams, which means more livelihood for the players,” said Paras, who will work on the coverage panel.
Games of the PSL will be aired on IBC-13.
Several more teams had sent feelers to join at the last minute, according to Bautista, and they are bracing for an extended season that might run until late March next year.
“There are still teams that are expressing interest to join,” added Bautista.
On Thursday night, teams from Manila and Cainta provided an exciting match that went down to the wire, with the Stars coming back from a huge deficit before escaping with a thrilling 68-67 win, with Kyle Neypes and Kentoy Segura leading the charge.
Manila completed its comeback from a 10-point deficit but squandered a 12-point advantage in the final stretch. However, a big stop in the final play forced Cainta’s Patrick Bacay to take a desperation heave as time expired, allowing the Stars to preserve the win.
