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The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) restarts its 45th season on Sunday with its only conference in this year hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in a unique setting in Clark’s bubble in Pampanga.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel fights NLEX in the 6:45 pm main game of the double header with the Gin Kings playing minus their crowd of rabid fans at the Angeles University Foundation.
In addition to the entire entourage of the PBA confined in the bubble for more than two months, the public is prohibited from entering the venue for the entire duration of the tournament which ends a few days before Christmas.
Alaska and TNT Tropang Giga raise the curtain on stunting season that entered a seven-month hiatus at 4 p.m.
Geneva head coach Tim Cone expressed his relief when Japeth Aguilar and court general LA Tenorio showed up at the bubble before the weekend, missing both of the team’s practices while undergoing strict health protocols required to all on the premises.
NLEX and Geneva had an exciting match to remember in Dubai on October 5 last year when the Road Warriors achieved a 113-111 overtime victory. But NLEX coach Yeng Guiao has already forgotten that classic game, especially in these difficult times.
“There are many unknowns and many things to study. The team that will have the advantage here is the one that can easily adjust and adapt in these kinds of conditions, ”said Guiao. “This is a unique situation, so flexibility, adaptability and endurance are the keys here.”
Meanwhile, Alaska coach Jeffrey Cariaso chose TNT as one of the strongest teams in the bubble after KaTropa strengthened during the hiatus with the acquisition of JP Erram, Simon Enciso, Almond Ye, Lervin Flores and the rookies Kib Montalbo and Rodel de Leon.
“TNT is full of stars. Obviously they were busy in the offseason acquiring important pieces, ”Cariaso told BusinessMirror via text message on Friday, adding that he hopes the Aces defense will have to be at a high level against TNT.
“Our defense will be challenged but I am also confident that we have the pieces to play at a high level,” he said.
Alaska won’t feature retired center Sonny Thoss or Maverick Ahanmisi, arriving from the US on Oct. 17-18, so he will miss two of the Aces’ games.
Bobby Ray Parks Jr., veteran William Jayson Castro and Jeth Troy Rosario are expected to join Tropang Giga with coach Ferdinand Ravena.
