THE 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup is set to roll with two intriguing match-ups right away in its opening day.
Defending champion Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are set to take on former mentor Yeng Guiao and his NLEX Road Warriors side at 7 p.m. in the main event at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Three hours prior, the initial game of the tournament will pit the Meralco Bolts and the Mahindra Floodbusters, two teams who missed the playoffs of the Philippine Cup, at 4:15 p.m.
It will be a weird situation for the Elasto Painters as they are not only set to battle Guiao but they will also face their former resident import Wayne Chism, who was tapped by Guiao to reinforce the Road Warriors.
Chism had three previous stints with Rain or Shine and even led the team to the finals of the Commissioner’s Cup two years back.
Rain or Shine is also set to parade a returning import in Shawn Taggart.
Taggart played for GlobalPort last season and now, he is set to take his act and help the Elasto Painters.
In their first meeting with Guiao and the Road Warriors, after the veteran coach transferred sides in the off-season, the Elasto Painters emerged victorious with a 107-97 decision last December in the Philippine Cup.
The Bolts and the Floodbuster will present different kinds of imports in their tiff.
Mahindra will unleash returning reinforcement James White once more while Meralco taps new import Alex Stepheson.
