Controversial Kia Picanto faces new-look NLEX

By: Inquirer.net December 19,2017 - 10:13 PM

Games Today
(San Juan Arena)
4:15 p.m. – KIA Picanto vs NLEX
7 p.m. – Magnolia vs Alaska

KIA Picanto was in the news most of the time during the off-season, well, much for all the wrong reasons.

After the controversy surrounding the tenure of Chito Narvasa as commissioner was finally settled on Sunday, it’s KIA’s turn now to show the PBA and its fans that it did well in giving up the No. 1 Draft pick that started the biggest issue that rocked the league in the first place.

The Picanto gave up a franchise player in Christian Standhardinger in the Draft and opted to trade the pick to powerhouse San Miguel Beer in exchange for two benchwarmers and the veteran Ronald Tubid.

KIA also let go of national pool point guard LA Revilla and the team is practically a shell of the team that entered the league five years ago and showed so much promise.

And at 4:15 p.m. at San Juan Arena on Wednesday, the Picanto make their Philippine Cup debut against NLEX, which, in the exact opposite manner that the Picanto handled its team in the offseason, beefed up the best way it can to challenge the powerhouses of the league.

Kiefer Ravena, the former MVP and UAAP champion with Ateneo, plays a big role in the NLEX makeover as the Road Warriors try to sustain remarkable improvement shown in the last Governors’ Cup where they made it all the way to the quarterfinals.

Alaska, meanwhile, slugs it out with Magnolia, nee Purefoods, in the 7 p.m. contest, with the Aces to play for the first time in years without erstwhile defensive coach Louie Alas.

Kevin Alas, another Gilas pool member, will be the second point guard for coach Yeng Guiao, who also has at his disposal veterans Larry Fonacier and JR Quiñahan.

Tubid, together with former San Miguel teammate Jay-R Reyes, find themselves the focal points of KIA’s unorthodox approach, with Mark Yee still there and remaining to be coach Chris Gavina’s best defensive man.

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TAGS: controversial, faces, Kia, nlex, Picanto

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