By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE SEASON-ENDING Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup fires off today with a double-header set at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

An import-laden tournament with a height limit of 6’5” for reinforcements, teams will have to go through a single-round elimination in the tournament with the top eight teams advancing to the next round and the last four automatically eliminated.

In the quarterfinals, the top four teams have a twice-to-beat advantage over their lower-seeded opponents while the semifinals will be a best-of-five affair.

The finals will be a best-of-seven engagement.

Kicking things off is the match between the Alaska Aces and Columbian Dyip at 4:30 p.m. and Northport Batang Pier against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 7:00 in the evening.

The Aces come into the tournament with a new coach and a couple of new players acquired by way of trade during the in-between conference break.

Jeff Cariaso now handles the Alaska team, replacing Alex Compton who was the Aces’ head bench tactician in the past five years.

The coaching job is the second stint for Mr. Cariaso, who coached the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in 2014.

“[It’s] Truly a blessing to elevate into this level of leadership. I am honored for the opportunity and genuinely humbled as I face the challenge,” said Mr. Cariaso, who played part of his highly successful PBA playing career with the Aces, upon assuming the head-coaching duties for Alaska.

New faces on the Alaska camp are guard Maverick Ahanmisi and rookie big man Abu Tratter.

Reinforcing the Aces in the tournament is Justin Watts who played at the University of North Carolina in college and was part of the champion Tar Heels squad in 2009.

Testing the new-look Aces first is Columbian, which is welcoming back in its fold rookie guard CJ Perez, who had an impressive stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the recently concluded FIBA World Cup in China.

The Dyip, who finished 11th in the Commissioner’s Cup, will be reinforced by Khapri Alston, a product of Midwestern State University in Texas.

Also playing for Columbian now are Lervyn Flores and Joseph Gabayni, whom the team acquired in a recent trade with Northport.

NORTHPORT VS. RAIN OR SHINE
Meanwhile in the second game, Northport returns from a spirited campaign in the previous conference where it finished second at the end of the elimination round before bowing to eventual champions San Miguel Beermen in the quarterfinals.

Rookie guard Robert Bolick returns from his Gilas stint in the World Cup to steer the Batang Pier, who got Jerramy King and Russell Escoto in their trade with Columbian.

Northport import is Mychal Ammons, who played for South Alabama in college and was a former import of the TNT KaTropa in the same conference in 2016.

Its opponent, Rain or Shine, for its part, finished in the Final Four in the Commissioner’s Cup and looks to go deeper this time around.

The Elasto Painters have an intact lineup, with Ping Exciminiano the lone new local player after being acquired in their trade with Alaska.

Rain or Shine has brought in former Star Hotshots import Joel Wright as import.

During his first PBA tour of duty Mr. Wright had averages of 28.4 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks in the seven games.

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