Global Port vs Ginebra in PBA opening

THE PBA’S newest squad the Global Port Batang Pier get to have their baptism of fire early on as they face crowd darling Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel when the league opens shop with the Philippine Cup on Sept. 30 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Batang Pier, with their explosive backcourt of former MVP Willie Miller and scoring champion Gary David, square up against the Kings’ new court general LA Tenorio, whom Ginebra acquired in a blockbuster deal in the offseason.

The league released the tentative schedule through their official Facebook account.

The league has divided the teams into two groups with group 1 being composed of the Air21 Express, the Meralco Bolts, the Petron Blaze Boosters, Barangay Ginebra, and the San Mig Coffee Mixers, formerly known as the B-MEG Llamados.

Group 2 is being comprised of the Alaska Aces, the Barako Bull Energy Cola, Globalport Batang Pier, formerly known as the Powerade Tigers, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters.

Each team plays teams in their group once, and the squads from the opposing group twice, for a total of 14 games.

The league will also touch base with its fans in the province with games beign scheduled at Digos City, Victorias City, Lapu-Lapu City, Tubod, Puerto Princes, and Dipolog City. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio