PBA@37 Preview: Steady as a Rock (part 2)

A look at the upcoming campaigns of Alaska, Barako Bull, Petron and Barangay Ginebra Alaska Aces After the explosive decision of Tim Cone to opt out of his contract, fellow champion coach Joel Banal looks to pick up the pieces and steer this proud franchise to even greater heights this coming season. LA Tenorio (13.5ppg 4.8rpg 4.5apg in 35.5mpg last season) will still be at the forefront of this squad with Cyrus Baguio, Sonny Thoss and Tony Dela Cruz providing more than able support. Alaska has four newbies on the active roster bannered by National player Mac Baracael, Eric Salamat, Ariel Mepana and little known Chicago-born, Julius Pasculado. While we expect Baracael to fill in the void that Joe De Vance left (or become TDLC version 2.0), the key might just be how Salamat and Pasculado perform to keep Tenorio’s mileage down come playoff time. Jay-R Reyes (7.4ppg 6.2rpg), now more than ever, will need to justify his max contract to transform the Aces' massive frontline (with Thoss, Eman, Bugia, Mepana) into one of the more formidable ones if Alaska wants to keep in step with the big boys in the Philippine Cup. (PhilCup prediction: middle of the pack) Barako Bull Energy “Ang Bumangga Giba!" is back. The familiar battle cry from a few years back has been adapted by this latest edition with a slight twist. If the Energy that captured our imagination consisted of the unheralded but tough young guns of Coach Yeng Guiao, Coach Junel Baculi will have a lot of veteran big names this time around. Danny Seigle and Willie Miller definitely provide the star power, but the collection of rough and tumble guys behind them makes this squad no pushover. Don Allado, Dorian Pena, Mick Pennisi, Jondan Salvador, Leo Najorda, Sunday Salvacion, Paul Artadi and Winnie Arboleda will look to bring the pain as they try to incorporate the pair of fresh legs they got via the draft. Late National team scrap Dylan Ababou should be a man on a mission while D-League MVP Allein Maliksi will be looking to make an impact as they both fight for wing minutes in probably one of the deeper rotations at the 2-3. This team will be scrappy, they might even play with no regard for anyone’s safety, but their campaign will depend on how far they can sustain. (PhilCup prediction: low quarters seed, will hope for luck with whoever they match up with) Petron Blaze Boosters The miraculous run is done. This is what this edition of the winningest PBA franchise has got to realize. And the recently crowned Governor’s Cup champions has already gone to work, filling the void left by import Anthony Grundy by reacquiring the Cebuano Hotshot, Don Don Hontiveros and making a move on draft day to take in National mainstay Chris Lutz. With Jay Washington not due back until December-January, BPC and Finals MVP Arwind Santos should have his touches once again while former two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso, now two-time champion Denok Miranda and Alex Cabagnot will have their time in the sun, just like during that grand slam-breaking run. ROY Rabeh Al-Husseini will still be out but his brother Carlo Sharma has come in to try and add some ceiling. Joseph Yeo is also due back but will have to impress to earn some floor time which may also be said for Baclao and Guevarra. Petron remains a solid contender and should overwhelm a lot of teams during the eliminations. But how far they go after that will be dependent on how hungry and on the same page they remain, come playoff time. (PhilCup prediction: semis with a realistic shot at beyond) Barangay Ginebra Kings After missing the Finals via inferior quotient the last time around, the Kings were relatively quiet with regards to roster moves this off season. The biggest news from their Barangay is the power-sharing scheme they have implemented with Jong Uichico and Siot Tanquincen tag-teaming as Associate Coaches. JJ Helterbrand also resigned but for just one conference, wanting to figure out his level of desire, while Eric Menk has been relegated to the injured reserve list and Rudy Hatfield calling it quits for the Nth time. Ginebra exercised their 9th overall pick on burly former Tamarraw Reil Cervantes. At 6’4, Reil may just be what the captain ordered for the Barangay’s oft-injured frontline. Enrico Villanueva is scheduled to be back and will try and clog the lane with Billy Mamaril, Yancy De Ocampo and the undersized Willy Wilson. Their strength will still be in their security agency with Mark Caguioa coming off yet another near-miss MVP season. All Defensive team member John Wilson may just be the biggest revelation this coming season with Cortez, Tubid, Helterbrand, Aquino and fan-fave Rob Labagala looking to always ignite any coliseum they head into. (PhilCup prediction: it may not be an automatic berth, but they’ll find a way into the final 4) - OMG, GMA News