35th season of PBA Philippine Cup comes off the wraps today Cebu Daily News, Inquirer
THE 35TH season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup comes off the wraps today featuring a lone encounter between the Burger King Whoppers and the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants at the Araneta Coliseum.
Ushering the brand new season is the traditional colorful opening rites, which will include a simple tribute to the late league chairman Tony Chua of Barako Bull.
Chua drowned in a flooded street in Metro Manila at the height of typhoon Ondoy.
Today's lone game will also showcase the much-awaited debut of number one overall pick Japeth Aguilar, who created a stir when he initially refused to play with the Whoppers before agreeing to sign a one-year deal.
Aguilar's arrival will make up for the departure of Arwind Santos, who was shipped to the San Miguel Beermen.
Burger King will also parade new acquisitions Ronjay Buenafe and Chico Lanete.
Today's game will pit the top two picks in the Rookie Draft as Purefoods will also parade the six-foot-six former La Salle Green Archer Rico Maierhofer.
Also suiting up for the Giants are newcomer Rafi Reavis and the returning Marc Pingris and Paul Artadi./EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA