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MANILA,
Oct. 2 (PNA) – With new television partner and sponsor, Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Sonny Barrios has expressed
optimism that the league will sustain last year’s success in the
2008-09 season which kicks off on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
”We
look at this coming season with optimism to sustain last year’s
success,” Barrios said during the pre-season press conference at the
Diamond Hotel in Ermita, Manila.
Barrios
cited the 20,092 crowd, the biggest in 25 years, which was recorded
during the previous import-laced Fiesta Cup finals which popular team
Ginebra won in Game 7 over first finalist Air21 Express.
”We
have new TV partner in Solar Sports which has put a lot of money to
make sure we have superlative coverage of the games and new sponsor KFC
which will sponsor the upcoming Philippine Cup,” Barrios said.
Barrios
also revealed that majority of the 10 member teams have upgraded their
line-up either through draft or trades and training abroad.
In
an effort to boost its line-up, Rain or Shine (formerly named Welcoat)
has drafted top amateur players Gabe Norwood and euqally-exciting
Fil-Am player Solomon Mercado.
”We foresee intense competition this season since many teams have upgraded their lineups,” Barrios said.
New
PBA board chairman Joaqui Trillo of Alaska has vowed to continue the
success that was gained by his predecessor Tony Chua of Red Bull even
as he also expressed full support to the national team that PBA will
form for the FIBA-Asia qualifying for the World championship.
In
support of the national team, Barrios said the league has decided to
put up games during Thursday to accommodate at least eight games every
week.
”We
have to finish each conference early so that we will be able to give
enough time for national coach Yeng Guiao to focus for training,”
Barrios said.
The
KFC-Philippine Cup will open on Saturday with US Ambassador Kristie
Kenney gracing the opening ceremonies where she will be bringing 30
children from the Muslim center in Taguig City.
”The
general public should be aware of the other side of the PBA and that to
do public service to the children who need to be inspired by our
players through reading of books in front of them,” Barrios said.
Coca-Cola
and Talk ‘N Text will face each other in a lone game during the opening
day while Air21 and Rain or Shine will slug it out along with Alaska
versus San Miguel Beer in the first double-header the next day at the
Cuneta Astrodome.
Aside
from minor technical rule changes like reverting back the shot clock
from 14 to 24 seconds, the league will have the same format used last
season wherein top teams will outright advance to the semifinals after
the double round elimination.
The
teams from sixth to ninth place will figure in a series of knockout
matches in the wild round for the right to get the remaining slot
against the No. 3 team in the quarterfinals. The No. 4 and 5 teams face
each other in other best-of-three quarterfinals series.
The
winners will advance in the best-of-seven semifinals against the two
outright semifinalists. The finals is also best-of-seven while the
battle for third place is a knockout game. (PNA) |