Balkman, Aguilar highlight opening game of PBA

Games today:

Araneta Coliseum

5:15 p.m.- Globalport vs. Petron

7:30 p.m.- San Mig Coffee vs. Barako Bull

RENALDO Balkman, a former New York Knick and Denver Nugget, plays his first official game in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) but the spotlight will not only on him as a homegrown talent is also expected to get much of the attention when the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup gets underway today with a double-header at the Araneta Coliseum.

Controversial cager Japeth Aguilar debuts with Globalport Batang Pier, who will take on the Balkman-led Petron Blaze Boosters in the opening game, while the San Mig Coffee Mixers start their title-retention bid against the Barako Bull Energy Cola in the main match.

The 6-foot-8 Balkman put up big numbers when he led the talent-laden Boosters to the championship in the recent Sinulog Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.

Globalport will be parading 6-foot-10 Justin Williams, who also had a short stint in the NBA.

Unlike Balkman, Williams went undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft but was signed by the Sacramento Kings in 2007 as a free agent.

Globalport made a bold move in the conference-break when it took part in megal deal that saw them acquiring the 6-foot-9 Aguilar and spitfire Sol Mercado.

There were reports that Aguilar demanded for a trade after not getting enough playing time with the Talk N Text Tropang Texters. It didn’t take long for Talk ‘N Text to ship Aguilar, who recently signed a one-year deal with Globalport ./EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA