The PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup promises to be another thrilling conference, if not better. San Miguel begins its title-retention bid, but it will be a tall order with teams upgrading their lineups.
The PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup is projected to be nothing short of spectacular.
After a hectic Season 49, all teams got a much-deserved rest in the offseason for another year expected to be more intense.
[RELATED STORY: Revised basket interference rule among changes announced by PBA ahead of Season 50]
But that doesn’t mean team officials slacked off, of course.
The offseason has seen major moves from some teams, with Rain or Shine adding four-time champion Stanley Pringle to a young squad that made the semifinals four straight times.
LA Tenorio will also call the shots for Magnolia, with the possibility of serving as playing-coach.
[ALSO READ: LA Tenorio on potentially becoming Magnolia player-coach in PBA: 'Depends on management’]
Converge also made a trade for the second-round draft pick, used to pluck highly-touted Juan Gomez de Liaño. His brother, Javi Gomez de Liaño, also returned home and signed with the Hotshots after a stint in South Korea.
Those moves are only expected to intensify the competition as the new season gets going Sunday, October 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
[ALSO READ: What's in a name? Pureblends explains reasoning for 'Titan Ultra Giant Risers' ahead of PBA 50]
Here are some of the matches fans must not miss in the All-Filipino Cup:
Magnolia vs Ginebra | October 5 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
It’s student versus the master.
Who doesn’t want to see new Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio go up against former coach Tim Cone and Ginebra in the Manila Clasico at the start of the season? Add to that the possibility of Tenorio suiting up as playing-coach.
[ALSO READ: Ginebra-Magnolia 'Manila Clasico' ushers in PBA Season 50]
Titan Ultra vs Meralco | October 8 | Ynares Center, Antipolo
Titan Ultra will make its PBA debut against Meralco Bolts at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Aside from the new name, it is also interesting to see how Calvin Abueva will lead the Giant Risers against league juggernauts like the Bolts, the Season 48 All-Filipino champions.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Calvin Abueva ready to embrace challenge as NorthPort sale to Pureblends looms]
Also, Meralco will be sporting its brand new logo and threads which remind most people of the reigning defending champions OKC Thunder.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Chris Newsome expresses appreciation for Meralco Bolts fresh threads]
Rain or Shine vs Meralco | October 11 | Ynares Center, Montalban
This marks the fist time Stanley Pringle will suit up for Rain or Shine after his forgettable stint with Terrafirma. It’s interesting to see whether the 38-year-old still has a lot left in his tank. Is the four-time champion really the missing piece for the Elasto Painters?
[ALSO READ: Stanley Pringle last piece in Rain or Shine's PBA title bid? It's not that simple, says 4-time champ]
Converge vs San Miguel | November 2 | Ynares Center, Antipolo
Converge has been tagged as a team to beat after beefing up its roster by way of trade and draft in the offseason. After all, the FiberXers parade a complete roster with incoming rookie Juan Gomez de Liano teaming up with the twin towers of Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar. And there’s no better way to know whether you’re up there than to size yourself up against defending champions Beermen.
[ALSO READ: New-look Cjay Perez has same goal for San Miguel Beermen in PBA Season 50]
San Miguel vs TNT | December 5 | Ynares Center, Antipolo
It’s a grudge match between the Philippine Cup Finals protagonists San Miguel and TNT. The Beermen prevailed in six games against the then Grand Slam-seeking Tropang 5G. But a lot has changed since then, especially for TNT in terms of personnel. Rey Nambatac is returning to the fold, while the TNT also added lanky forwards Kevin Ferrer and Tyrus Hill.
[ALSO READ: Rey Nambatac is ‘healthy and ready to play’ after missing most of PBA Philippine Cup]
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.