The five-game-a-week PBA Commissioner’s Cup gets going Tuesday as expansion squad Kia Sorento meets Globalport in the opener and Ginebra faces Meralco in the nightcap at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Games will be played Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as the league hopes to wrap up the conference early to allow an early finish so the Philippine team can get ready for the FIBA-Asia championships that will be held in China.
The China event will be a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Coached by Manny Pacquiao, the Sorento will parade 7-4 Peter John Ramos, a former member of the Puerto Rican national team, who will be up against Batang Pier recruit CJ Leslie.
Ginebra will put to test former Air21 reinforcement Michael Dunigan.
Meralco has yet to sign up an import as the Bolts scamper to sign up its foreign reinforcement.
The following day at the Cuneta Astrodome, Barako Bull collides with another expansion team, Blackwater.
Barako will be led by 7-1 Sol Alabi, while the Elite will have 7-2 Chris Charles, the best import of the ABL.
In the second game, Talk ‘N Text, a finalist in the same conference last season, will field former import Richard Howell when it battles Rain or Shine, which has tapped Richard Jackson.
Action resumes Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Kia colliding with Meralco.