SISTER teams San Miguel Beer (SMB) and Barangay Ginebra, as well as TNT, three squads that have made the PBA their stomping ground the last 10 seasons, were picked as the title favorites in a quick survey among the league governors.
But interestingly, TNT's sister squad Meralco entered the conversation for the first time, with the top officials from the PBA pointing to the Bolts' first-ever franchise championship during last season's Philippine Cup as a turning point for the team.
"The big teams like Ginebra, San Miguel, and TNT, as well as the new (Philippine Cup) champion Meralco, these teams are expected to dominate," Rain or Shine team governor Mamerto Mondragon said during last Wednesday's PBA Season 49 press conference at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.
Mondragon's counterpart from NLEX Ronald Dulatre agreed, noting that while the rest of the teams in the league acquired new talents during the offseason, they can't discount the fact that the Beermen, the Gin Kings and the Tropang Giga remain solid heading to the new season.
Meralco, meanwhile, will welcome back to its fold three-time PBA Best Import Allen Durham after a three-year absence since spending the past few years playing in the Japan B.League.
"All teams are very competitive because San Miguel, Ginebra and TNT, as well as Meralco are still there," Dulatre said.
"In an import conference, we all have a chance to get a good import, which will make every team competitive. And for us at NLEX, our modest goal is to enter the playoffs for every conference."
The Road Warriors aim to challenge the PBA heavyweights as the team hired nine-time league champion coach Jong Uichico to replace Frankie Lim.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra team governor and new PBA vice chairman Alfrancis Chua said that while nearly all top league officials always consider the Gin Kings among the title favorites, they also have to remember that the team let go of veteran stars Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle.
The 6-foot-8 Standhardinger and six-foot Pringle were traded to Terrafirma in exchange for incoming sophomore guard Stephen Holt and Isaac Go, while both squads also swapped their respective first round picks from last month's PBA Draft.
The Gin Kings went on to draft third overall pick RJ Abarrientos, the former playmaker of Gilas Pilipinas and Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
"Everybody knows half of the team are new. We lost some veterans, though Justin Brownlee is still gonna be there," Chua said.
"Meralco already has a solid team, and San Miguel will always be there, TNT, meantime, has a strong import that's coming back," he added, referring to 2023 Governors' Cup Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who led the Tropang Giga to the import conference title.
Still, the outspoken Ginebra team official said one can't discount Blackwater due to its own offseason buildup along with the presence of former NBA player Ricky Ledo.
"Watching the practice games from the video I got, Blackwater is one team that's fun to watch," he said. "They have a very good import, tall players and they got a very good point guard."
Ledo, the Milwaukee Bucks' 43rd overall pick in the 2013 NBA Rookie Draft, is bringing in tons of pro basketball experience to a Bossing franchise that is coming off another moribund performance in the 2023-24 PBA season.
While the Bossing only won five times as against 17 losses, the charges of coach Jeff Cariaso are determined to turn their fortunes around this Season 49 with Sedrick Barefield, the team's No. 2 overall rookie pick this year, adding stability and scoring punch at the backcourt.
Blackwater team governor Silliman Sy, meanwhile, is impressed with Ledo and admits that Barefield is a major addition to the team.
"Our goal is always to have more than four wins, but we hope that for the first time we will enter the semis, so just one baby step at a time," said Sy. "We always look at the way we should be improving ourselves."
As for Magnolia team governor Rene Pardo, he insists the Hotshots remain a championship contender, thanks to 2017 NBA Slam Dunk king.
"I still think Magnolia will be a contender this coming conference," stressed Pardo, whose team finished runner-up in last season's Commissioner's Cup behind San Miguel.
Since the 2014-15 season, San Miguel has dominated the league with 10 championships, followed by Ginebra's seven crowns, which the team all won under Tim Cone. TNT had three PBA titles.
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