One PBA legend is making a return, this time as assistant coach.
The Magnolia Hotshots and TNT Tropang Giga officially opened the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday, with the former emerging as victors in the thrilling match of potential contenders at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The action continues on Wednesday, with the Blackwater Bossing and the Converge FiberXers set to face each other in the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser at the PhilSports Arena, to be followed by the Meralco Bolts going up against the retooled Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Here’s what to expect from these games:
2023 PBA Draft first rounders’ debut
The second game day of the 48th season will see the much-awaited debut of PBA Draft first rounders like no. 2 pick Christian David, who believes he can help turn things around for the Bossing.
Also making their debut are Meralco's Brandon Bates (no. 8), Rain or Shine big man Keith Datu (no. 4 pick), and Converge’s Schonny Winston (no. 9) and BJ Andrade (no. 10).
Meanwhile, highly touted third overall pick Luis Villegas, who is still recovering from an ACL injury, is in Rain or Shine's reserves list.
Jeff Cariaso debuts for Blackwater
Coincidence or not, Cariaso will be making his Blackwater debut against his former team, the Converge FiberXers
To be clear, there’s no beef between the two parties, but it’s always interesting to see a player—or a coach—go up against his former team.
Cariaso is tasked to lift the Bossing from the rubbles of a forgettable 1-10 record in the Governors’ Cup.
New-look Converge
The FiberXers let go of some of their key players in Abu Tratter, Dave Murell, Maverick Ahanmisi, and Jeron Teng.
Tratter and Murell were traded to Magnolia last April, while Ahamisi and Teng found their new homes in Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the San Miguel Beermen, respectively, via free agency.
Aldin Ayo and company now hope to get the most from FiberXers rookies like Andrade, Winston, and potential steal of the draft Pat Maagdenberg. Converge also acquired Mac Tallo in free agency and has been activated just in time for Converge's Season 48 debut.
Willie Miller is back in the PBA
The two-time PBA MVP will make his PBA return, now as an assistant coach of the FiberXers, the team announced on Tuesday.
Miller has been going around playing exhibition matches with the PBA Motoclub, a group of legends that include Jayjay Helterbrand, Marc Pingris, and PJ Simon.
Import DaJuan Summers’ PBA debut
Also seeing action in the PBA's second play date for Season 48 is NBA veteran Dajuan Summers, who will reinforce the Elasto Painters.
Summers, who was measured a shade under 6-foot-8, previously played with the Detroit Pistons. He is also the oldest in this current crop of imports at 35.
An early test for Suleiman Braimoh, Meralco's replacement reinforcement
Summers will be pitted against Suleiman Braimoh, whom Meralco brought over to replace original choice Feron Hunt after the Bolts' dreadful showing in a pocket tournament in Doha a weeks back.
This early, Luigi Trillo and the rest of the Bolts will find out if the early import change was a good thing or a bad one.
(MDB)