Jay R. Gotera
MANILA — The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) begins its season-ending Governors’ Cup Friday, with the Gilas Pilipinas boys back to their mother clubs after the frustration of the FIBA Olympic Qualifier Tournament in Manila early this month.
Gilas fought gallantly but got eliminated after losing their two Group B games against France and New Zealand.
PBA action resumes with the Meralco Bolts going up against the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the first game and the Star Hotshots tangling with the Mahindra Enforcers in the nightcap.
Meanwhile, just two days before the start of the Governors’ Cup, Alaska sent shockwaves when it dealt veteran guard Cyrus Baguio to Phoenix for a pair of future draft picks.
The 36-year-old Baguio is listed as one of Alaska’s 30 Greatest Players in the history of the franchise and played a key role in the team’s last two championships—the 2010 Fiesta Cup and the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup.
His trade to Phoenix is expected to pave the way for more playing time on Alaska’s young guns such as Rome dela Rosa and rookie Kevin Racal.
Aside from Baguio, Phoenix also acquired Ronjay Buenafe from Meralco Bolts in exchange for Jonathan Uyloan.
Phoenix will also have a new coach in Ariel Vanguardia.
Baguio will debut for the Fuel Masters in Friday’s match against the Bolts. His inclusion in Phoenix’s roster is expected to fill the void left by forward JC Intal who is expected to miss action for at least two months due to bone spurs in his ankle.
Meanwhile, Gilas boys Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan have rejoined Rain or Shine. Top gunner Paul Lee is also back in harness after a minor operation on his knee.
The Governors’ Cup will see the 10 competing teams reinforced with foreign players no taller than 6’5.” Some of the teams will also be beefed up with Asian imports.
A total of 10 former imports are back for another tour of duty led by San Miguel Beer’s Arizona Reid and Star Hotshots’ Marqus Blakely. Other returning imports are Paul Harris of Barangay Ginebra, Bill Walker of NLEX, Dominique Sutton of GlobalPort, Allen Durham of Meralco, Dior Lowhorn of Rain or Shine, and Eric Dawson of Blackwater.
Syrian gunner Michael Madanly will play for NLEX while Palestinian guard Omar Krayem will play for GlobalPort.
New faces include Alaska’s LaDontae Henton, TNT’s Mario Little, Phoenix’s Marcus Simmons and Lee Kwan Hee, Meralco’s Mohammad Jamshidi, Blackwater’s Imad Qahwash, NLEX’ Rodrigue Akl, and Mahindra’s James White.
Crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra opens its campaign Saturday against GlobalPort, while San Miguel Beer begins its title defense Sunday against NLEX.
