MAGNOLIA DAIRY Ice Cream starts its title-retention drive today when it battles a retooled Toyota Otis-Letran squad, while Negros Navigation-San Beda is looking for a grand debut in the PBL Unity Cup at the Makati Coliseum.
The Wizards, seeking to retain the title they won over Welcoat Paints last year, are out to extend their dominance over the Knights when they clash in the main game at 4 p.m.
In the curtain-raiser at 2 p.m., the Paint Masters and Red Lions meet in a game that will feature the former’s awesome firepower against the latter’s tested offense.
The winners in today’s matches will join Montaña Pawnshop and Granny Goose Kornets on top following their contrasting wins in the opening day last Saturday. The Jewels beat Harbour Centre in overtime, 81-75, while the Snackmasters proved too classy for Bacchus Energy Drink, 62-49.
The Knights, who acquired the services of 6-foot-5 Ronald Capati, shooter Emerson Oreta and the rugged Ardy Larong to beef up their already solid roster, have yet to win over the Wizards in the five times they clashed since joining the country’s premier amateur league last year.
Even in today’s game, Toyota coach Louie Alas remains wary of the Wizards.
"We have to be aggressive in both ends of the court to beat the Wizards. If we can’t do that, we have no chance to beat them," said Alas, who blamed inconsistency for the team’s early exit in the Open Championship.
Still, Alas believes the team now has the right ingredients to contend for the title. But that depends largely on how the players blend with each other and how they react to different situations.
"Lagi ko silang tsinachallenge so nasa kanila na rin yon," said Alas who is also pinning his hopes on the razzle-dazzle plays of Ronjay Enrile, the marksmanship of Mark Macapagal and the strength in the middle of the 6-foot-7 Mark Andaya.
Magnolia coach Koy Banal lost a dependable guard in Warren Ybanez, who is currently making waves in the pro league, but the team still boasts of an array of big name players, among them Arwind Santos and Denok Miranda.
Without the prolific Chester Tolomia, Welcoat’s title bid now falls on the shoulders of Washington and the vastly improving duo of Jay Coching and Leo Najorda.
