THE only thing different is the name, but the Magnolia Beverage Masters—or the team formerly known as the San Miguel Beermen—looks every bit dynastic as the old name it bore.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) unveiled yesterday the newly named squad it will field in the 33rd season of the Philippine Basketball Association, inspired by the food conglomerate’s new line of nonalcoholic beverages.

The unveiling coincided with the announcement that Siot Tanquingcen is the Beverage Masters’ head coach. He took over Chot Reyes’s job last conference on an interim basis. Reyes is on an extensive leave, putting the young but intense Tanquingcen into his second full-time coaching assignment after a short but productive stint with Barangay Ginebra.

“I assure the long-time supporters and new fans of Magnolia that we will play our best and with our hearts out in every game,” Tanquingcen, the normally coy coach, said with confidence.

Tanquingcen’s Magnolia is loaded with talent.

National-team members Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros are rejoining a group that includes a chunk of the core responsible for leading the franchise to multiple championships early in the decade, namely ageless point-guard Olsen Racela, former two-time Most Valuable Player Danny Ildefonso and hulking center Dorian Peña.

But the relatively new faces that were added this year are what’s keeping Magnolia’s hopes of reliving the glory days alive.

The arrival of ex-Red Bull stars Larry Fonacier, Lordy Tugade and Enrico Villanueva, the maturation of LA Tenorio and the drafting of underrated playmaker Jonas Villanueva and behemoth Samigue Eman pit the Beverage Masters as legitimate title contenders.

Asked what they thought their chances were, Racela, the most senior on the team, said he and his teammates are all in the same vibe.

“Malakas talaga ang lineup namin,” Racela said. “Kapag hindi kami nag-champion madi-disappoint ako. Lalo na ang management, they put this team na napakalakas with that goal in mind.”

“Lahat naman ng players dumadaan sa ganyang pressure,” he added. “The pressure is there. It’s up to us kung paano namin ita-translate that into motivation.”

A Mere Ploy

AMERICAN trainer Freddie Roach is adamant that Marco Antonio Barrera never sparred against tough boxers during the Mexican’s entire training in preparation for his battle against Manny Pacquiao.

A well-rested UE and a weary La Salle

THE last time University of the East (UE) saw action was on September 13, when the Red Warriors beat the De La Salle Green Archers in overtime, 94-82, to accomplish a rare 14-0 sweep and an outright finals berth in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

THE only thing different is the name, but the Magnolia Beverage Masters—or the team formerly known as the San Miguel Beermen—looks every bit dynastic as the old name it bore.

REIGNING double world champion Ronnie Alcano and Asian Games gold medalist Antonio “Gaga” Gabica will banner the Philippine cue sports team that would aim for at least eight gold medals in the coming 24th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Rachasima, Thailand.

Another star falls in CdO

CAGAYAN DE ORO—Another national boxer bound for the Chicago World Championships fell to an understudy from the national pool.

Part Of The Game: A ‘Tol Tale, and then come

UGH! I hate to think of it. The UAAP’s basketball season is winding down. In about a week, it will be all over.  And Season 70 will be just a lovely, noisy, crazy, hazy memory in our collective brains.