Games Tuesday (The Arena in San Juan)
1:40 p.m. — Opening Ceremonies
2 p.m. — Ascof Lagundi vs Excel Roof
4 p.m. — Fern-C vs Cossack Blue

The 2010 PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta Cup starts Tuesday with a promise of another tough and exciting actions from a new batch of budding stars at The Arena in San Juan.

Except for Ascof Lagundi of Pascual Laboratories, the three other teams seeing action in the opening day of the country’s premier amateur basketball league are made up of stars of various collegiate teams, thus ensuring a fast-paced action with highlight plays – deadly crossovers and aerial acrobatics – likely to provide extra thrill to the crowd.

PBL Commissioner Chino Trinidad is not discounting the possibility that rookies will get a piece of the limelight although a number of veterans are out to make a statement to boost their stocks when they join the pro ranks late this year.

“There are a lot of exciting players out there, even rookies are expected to make an impression in the coming tournament,” said Trinidad, who thanked the old and new teams for believing in the vision of the league.

Ascof Lagundi starts its bid for a first-ever championship when it battle Excel Roof at 2 p.m. in the first game before new teams Fern-C and Cossack Blue meet in the second game at 4 p.m.

The games will start following a simple opening rites at 1:40 p.m. as the league will introduce all of the eight competing teams in the season-opening tournament.

Out to welcome guests and officials of eight participating teams are PBL chairman Ding Camua, Deputy Commissioner Tommy Ong, and Executive Director Butch Maniego.

San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito has also been invited to do the ceremonial toss. He will be assisted by Camua, the board representative of Pascual Laboratories. Cobra’s Paul Lee and Fern-C’s John Wilson will lead the Oath of Sportsmanship.

Dubbed as the Cough Busters, Ascof Lagundi (formely Pharex) will try to improve on its surprising runner-up finish last season behind holdovers JR Gerilla, Raymond Aguilar, Ian Mazo, and Kojack Melegrito.

Ascof Lagundi coach Carlo Tan can also count on the services of newcomers Bam Gamalinda of San Beda, former UAAP Mythical Five member Edwin Asoro, Rex Leynes, and Mapua's Jonathan Banal, who will make a return from an ACL injury he suffered last season while playing for Magnolia.

But Ascof Lagundi expects a tough challenge from Excel Roof, which will boast mainly of players from the NCAA champion San Sebastian Stags and coach Ato Agustin.