MARK CAGUIOA

Games on Friday (Araneta Coliseum)
2:30 p.m. — Smart-Gilas vs Burger King
5:00 p.m. — Coca-Cola vs Sta. Lucia
7:30 p.m. — Talk ’N Text vs Rain or Shine

Game on Saturday (Davao del Norte)
5:00 p.m. — San Miguel vs Alaska

Mark Caguioa, easily the most popular player in the league, made his much-anticipated return Wednesday and did not disappoint.

Caguioa scored 17 points to lead Barangay Ginebra to a 98-86 thumping of sister team San Miguel Beer at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I’m just glad to be back, and running... and playing basketball again,” said the 29-year-old Caguioa who missed the entire season last year due to tendonitis.

Before he went to the United States for rehabilitation, Caguioa had a career average of 18.2 points and averaged 19.8 a game during the 2007-2008 season.

When he stepped into the court Wednesday, Caguioa played as if he never left.

The 6-1 Caguioa, leaner with spiked hair and thick goatie, made his first basket with nine minutes left in the first period.

He did the most damage in the third quarter where he poured 15 points to give the Kings a 75-65 lead entering the final period.

Caguioa admitted he felt like a rookie the first time he entered the court, but got comfortable as the game wore on.

“Like I said, once you step into that court parang everything goes away. It feels like I never left,” he said.

Despite Caguioa’s impressive numbers, Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said his top gunner is still not in tip-top shape.

“I think he’s 80 percent,” Uichico said. “Hopefully he can get to 100 percent as the season goes on. He has lost a step, he has lost a jump, but that’s because sometimes it’s psychological. Once Mark gains confidence like in this game... hopefully he can get to where he wants to be.”

He may have lost a step, but not the will power.

His third quarter explosion is a testament to Caguioa’s determination.

“I don’t want to go hard but I had to (against SMB). I can’t help myself,” he said.

Jayjay Helterbrand, the other half of Ginebra’s Fast and Furious tandem, added 17 points, seven rebounds and nine assists as the Kings underscored their readiness to contend for the title.

In the first game, Alaska Milk played just hard enough to defeat Barako Bull, 99-83.

Meantime, five more teams, including defending champion Talk ’N Text, will make their respective season debuts today at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters face the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 7:30 p.m., right after the 5 p.m. encounter between the Coca-Cola Tigers and the Sta. Lucia Realtors.

Smart-Gilas, a guest team in the Philippine Cup, battles Burger King at 2:30 p.m.

Talk ’N Text is aiming to become the first team to defend the all-Filipino Cup championship since Great Taste won back-to-back AFC titles in 1984 and 1985.

The game between SLR and Coke will feature the return of 2008 MVP Kelly Williams, who missed the second half of the season-ending Fiesta Cup due to blood disorder, and Dennis Espino facing his old team, the Realtors.

The Nationals, to be handled by Serbian Rajko Toroman, will take on the Whopper in the curtain raiser with attention centered on controversial player Japeth Aguilar, who made his PBA debut last Sunday with Burger King but was dealt to TNT in a three-team trade with Barako Bull as conduit.