Games today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. — Terrafirma vs NorthPort
8 p.m. — NLEX vs Phoenix
Top overall pick Stephen Holt goes under the microscope as he makes his debut when Terrafirma battles NorthPort in the resumption of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Action starts at 4 p.m. with the 31-year-old Holt tipped to display his prowess and experience gained from his long career in the National Basketball Association G League and Europe in powering the Dyip to their first win in the season-opening conference.
Also gunning for a strong start are NLEX and Phoenix Super LPG, who collide in the 8 p.m. featured encounter.
Hopes are high on Holt and the Dyip.
Since joining the league as an expansion team in 2014, Terrafirma gained a reputation of trading their top overall picks, leaving it struggling to come up with a winning season.
CJ Perez, a multiple-time scoring champion, was traded to San Miguel Beer two years ago while 6-foot-6 Roosevelt Adams, a prized Filipino-American prospect who had a brief stint in one of the window tournaments of the FIBA World Cup, left the league for a lucrative overseas career.
Prior to them, Christian Standhardinger was dealt in a controversial transaction with the Beermen in 2017 while Joshua Munzon was traded to NorthPort two years after being tapped as the top overall pick in 2021.
The 6-foot-4 Holt already signed a two-year deal and hopes to stay to help the franchise snap its 14-conference playoff drought.
“It’s all about winning. I know this team has struggled, and obviously, I’d love to make the playoffs. Every year in my career, so far, I’ve been to the playoffs so I don’t want to have that streak end with Terrafirma,” said Holt, who is expected to gain support from Belgian import Thomas De Thaey.
“That’s just my responsibility coming in with the first pick. Obviously, I’m not a rookie, technically, with all the experiences I’ve had overseas. And the guys and coaches know that I’m a good dude on and off the court and I care about the right things.”
“It’s about working hard and just helping the guys in a positive way, and hopefully we have a successful season.”
Holt isn’t the only rookie expected to play key roles.
Taylor Miller, a 6-foot-1 guard and the last player to be selected by the Dyip in the first round, is also eager to prove his worth.
“I don’t put much expectations, but of course, I have expectations for myself and that is to get better every game,” Miller said.
“I’m sure, I’m not considered to be among the marquee so that would be less pressure for me.”
Second-round pick Kenmark Cariño is also raring to display his talent as he joins forces with former Ateneo de Manila University star Isaac Go.
Also expected to draw attention is the battle between NLEX and Phoenix.
The Road Warriors, whose championship run in the previous Governors’ Cup was denied by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, will march with renewed confidence as they parade former NBA lottery pick Thomas Robinson.
Robinson, who played for six teams in a five-year NBA career, will be facing former Los Angeles Laker Jonathon Williams, who will backstop the Fuel Masters.
