PBA: It's Slaughter vs. Sangalang on opening day
OPENING-DAY SCHEDULE (Nov. 17)
2:00PM - Opening ceremonies (Smart-Araneta Coliseum)
3:00PM - Barangay Ginebra vs. San Mig Coffee (Smart-Araneta Coliseum)
3:00PM - Talk 'N Text vs. Meralco (Cebu City Coliseum)
5:15PM - Rain or Shine vs. Alaska (University of Southeastern Philippines/Davao City)
Towering rookie Greg Slaughter will face an acid test right in his first game as his team, crowd darling Barangay Ginebra, takes on formidable San Mig Coffee in one of the three explosive match-ups in three different venues on November 17, kicking off the pro league's 39th season and the Philippine Cup hostilities as well.
After the opening rites set at 2 o'clock at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, a bigger share of the limelight is expected to fall on the 6-foot-11 Slaughter, who was selected first overall in the recent rookie draft, as he leads the Gin Kings' bid in the 'Manila Clasico' against the Mixers, who boast a plethora of quality big men in Marc Pingris, Joe Devance, Rafi Reavis, Yancy De Ocampo and no. 2 pick Ian Sangalang.
Over at the Cebu City Coliseum, reigning All-Filipino champion Talk 'N Text starts its title-retention against its sister team Meralco--now bolstered by former scoring champion Gary David and veteran center Kerby Raymundo--also set at 3 p.m.
Completing the unique opening day triple-header is an expected physical clash between Rain or Shine and Alaska set at 5:15 p.m. inside the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City.
After that blockbuster opening day, a number of exciting battles will follow.
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New-look GlobalPort, arguably the busiest team in the off-season, is in for an immediate tough grind against powerhouse Petron Blaze on November. 20 at the Big Dome.
The Mixers and head coach Tim Cone will also rekindle their rivalry with the Aces at The Astrodome on November 22, a day before the Tropang Texters slug it out with the their rivals, the Boosters, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Petron then gets its much-awaited chance to avenge its Governors Cup finals loss to tormentor San Mig Coffee as they square off on Nov. 27 at the Big Dome.
This conference's third and final out-of-town game will be held at Dipolog City on December 14 featuring the Meralco Bolts against the Boosters.
Then on December 25, fans will have a Christmas Day match-up to remember as Petron Blaze and Ginebra collide, with Boosters behemoth June Mar Fajardo and Gin Kings counterpart Slaughter taking their rivalry to another level.
