by JONAS TERRADO
Ray Parks Jr’s much-anticipated debut will highlight the start of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on May 19 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Parks and the Blackwater Elite take on the Meralco Bolts in the first game of the doubleheader to usher in the start of the league’s midseason conference.
Alaska and Columbian meet in the day’s other scheduled match.
Defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel begins its title defense on May 26 against Meralco at the Big Dome while Philippine Cup finalists Magnolia and San Miguel Beer start their campaign against separate foes on June 5.
Magnolia plays Alaska and San Miguel meets NorthPort at Araneta.
The league will also have six Saturday doubleheaders in order to speed up the duration of the eliminations due to Gilas Pilipinas’ stint in the FIBA World Cup in late-August.
Two out-of-town games are set for June 29 with Magnolia facing Meralco in Zamboanga City and San Miguel taking on Rain or Shine on July 13 in Cagayan de Oro City.
