Back to regular programming for PBA as Comm’s Cup opens
CANDON, Ilocos Sur—The PBA contingent immediately left this city after the final event of the All-Star Weekend that was more about fun, games and entertainment.
By Wednesday, it will again be about serious business, not just for the participants of the annual classic, but for the rest of the league with the start of the Commissioner’s Cup.
Terrafirma rookie Geo Chiu’s first PBA activity was his participation in the big man edition of the Obstacle Challenge on Friday. His first game for his club will be against Titan Ultra at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, where he begins the road towards being possibly one of the league’s elite big men.
The 6-foot-9 Chiu will have to get his feet wet against the likes of June Mar Fajardo and towering imports headlined by TNT’s Bol Bol, plus fellow seven-footers in Converge’s Kylor Kelley and Meralco’s Marvin Jones.
“It’s better to have a hard time than to be relaxed,” Chiu said in Filipino. “I’m not saying that the PBA is relaxed, but what I mean is facing tall imports is a challenge. And as a rookie, that’s what I want, a challenge. We’re just embracing it.”
His baptism of fire seems to pale in comparison to how Converge will deal from the start of the conference and beyond, with the first acid test for the squad that souped up during the break being the guest team, the Macau Black Bears.
New acquisition
Converge acquired Calvin Abueva from Titan last month while finally getting to sign up Mikey Williams following lengthy talks since his rights were acquired from TNT.
And with Juan Gomez de Liaño hoping to build on his impressive rookie conference plus fellow All-Stars Justin Arana, Justine Baltazar and Alec Stockton, plus Kelley, the FiberXers have nowhere to go but up.
“I feel like good things are about to happen to our team,” Gomez de Liaño told the Inquirer during the All-Star festivities. “I just hope that I continue playing well and we as a team stay healthy.”
How Macau could be a serious threat would depend on how well its team can embrace the PBA competition, in spite of the limitations.
The Black Bears are reportedly set to start parading former NBA player Tony Mitchell, who had a short stint with the Star Hotshots in 2017, as their first import, with 7-foot-6 Sam Deguara as their other option.
Macau is the third guest team to play in the league since 2022 and is looking to spoil the bids of a lot of contenders to win the midseason crown.
