Teams test readiness against foreign clubs

source: Joel Orellana | businessmirror.com.ph

Rain or Shine leaves for Dubai on September 30 as part of the team’s buildup for the coming season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Elasto Painters head coach Caloy Garcia said the tune-up against still-undetermined squads will test the team’s chemistry.

“Hindi pa namin alam kung sino ang makakalaban pero it’s a good opportunity for us na ma-test ang chemistry especially since we have new players in the team,” said Garcia.

The latest addition to the team is Mike Hrabak, who was released by Barako Bull.

The six-foot-seven Hrabak, Jeff Chan, Mark Telan and rookies Jervy Cruz and Marcy Arellano are the new faces in the Rain or Shine roster, which will still be bannered by last season’s Rookie of the Year Gabe Norwood and Solomon Mercado.

Rain or Shine is one of several teams playing exhibition games abroad as part of their preparations for the 35th season of the PBA, which starts on October 11. The team is coming off a breakthrough season after finishing fourth in the season-ending Fiesta Conference.

Coca-Cola will also leave for Singapore on Thursday to play a tune-up game against the Singapore Slingers. Tigers assistant coach Bo Perasol said the game will be a good workout for the team and new big men Ken Bono and Dennis Espino.

“This will be a good opportunity for us to show what we can do in the coming PBA season,” said Perasol, who was the head coach of Air21 that lost to the very same team in a pair of exhibition games last year.

“Malakas ang Slingers but I think we can match up with them,” he added. “At maganda na ring opportunity for us to have team bonding.”

Coke is hoping to end a six-year title drought, and the team now has renewed hopes after trading for the 14-year veteran Espino.

Sister teams Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer have also scheduled a tune-up game in Singapore. The Kings and the Beermen will leave on September 28.