Rejigged teams Meralco and NorthPort banner the PBA’s triple-header serving as the league opens its season, Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Match is at 6:00 p.m., serving as the main event of a busy day that will also feature tussles between Blackwater and Alaska and Rain or Shine and NLEX.
The Bolts, who made history in the Philippine Cup last year by reaching the conference semis for the first time in team history, will be parading new faces in a bid to earn their maiden PBA championship.
Spearheading the cast is incoming five-year pro Mac Belo, whom they acquired in an off-season trade with the Bossing in exchange for a long-time floor general Baser Amer and veteran big man Bryan Faundo.
Then there is also highly-touted rookie Alvin Pasaol, the MVP Group-owned club’s ninth overall pick in the 2021 Rookie Draft last March.
Familiar faces Chris Newsome, Reynel Hugnatan, 2020 Outstanding Rookie Aaron Black, and Anjo Caram, to name some, are also among those which head coach Norman Black can count on.
Not to be left behind, though, are the Batang Pier, who are still seen as one of the dark horses this season even after trading Christian Standhardinger to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for Greg Slaughter.
The 7-foot slotman, though, still won’t be around on opening day as he is still in the US, but there are still the usual suspects that will surely carry the fight.
Robert Bolick is expected to get back into action after over a year of recovery from the ACL tear he suffered back in October 2019. Sean Anthony, meanwhile, is coming in healthy after a string of injuries last season.
Rookies Jamie Malonzo, the second overall pick, as well as Troy Rike are also seen to make a good account of themselves in their debuts.
Meanwhile, familiar foes Elasto Painters and Road Warriors are expected to figure in a tight battle at 3:00 p.m.
Rain or Shine will be playing its first game under new head coach Chris Gavina, who took over the post from now-consultant Caloy Garcia, And not a few are intrigued how his return at the helm after years would turn out.
The former Kia mentor will have new guys in Leonard Santillan, Franky Johnson, and Anton Asistio, indeed more youth to a squad that also features young stars Rey Nambatac and Javee Mocon.
And all those youngsters would be guided by the vets, led of course by Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, and two-time MVP James Yap.
Still, there’s NLEX, although many are interested to see how the controversies that hounded the team recently would affect them on the court.
Kiefer Ravena was supposed to leave for Japan when he signed with the Shiga Lakestars of the Japan B.League, but the league didn’t allow him and insisted that he should honor his contract.
So, the second-generation has stayed put since, and he will now lead the Road Warriors’ attack versus the former team of his head coach Yeng Guiao.
NLEX will also be parading new acquisitions on Sunday, led by veteran forward Don Trollano — whom it acquired in a three-team trade with Blackwater and TNT — and rookies Calvin Oftana, the third overall pick, and David Murrell.
Raising the curtains of the triple-header will be the Bossings and the Aces at 12:30 p.m.
Blackwater has seemingly hit the reset button once again by trading away Belo and Trollano, but it nonetheless aims to compete with the pieces it has right now, led by Amer and gunslinging guard Simon Enciso.
Also in Coach Nash Racela’s arsenal is Kelly Nabong, who is seen to lead the Bossings frontcourt that also has Marion Magat and Frank Golla.
But they will definitely be in for a battle against a young Alaska crew, which will be bannered by 2020 Outstanding Rookie candidate Barkley Ebona.
The 6-foot-6 big man is now seen to be the Aces’ top big man following the departure of Vic Manuel, who requested to be traded earlier this year before being shipped to Phoenix Super LPG eventually.
Ebona, though, won’t be alone as he also has guys like Jeron Teng, Mike DiGregorio, and Maverick Ahanmisi, as well as neophytes Ben Adamos, Taylor Browne, Alec Stockton, and RK Ilagan.
Here is the full schedule for the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup:
