A GOODWILL game between a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team and a squad from China that was conceived to ease tension in the disputed Scarborough Shoal stand the risk of being cancelled.

This after an official from the Chinese team Shanghai Sharks, which is co-owned by former National Basketball Association star Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, hinted in an online interview about the probability of the match being shelved.

Sharks Spokesman Zhang Chi was quoted in the online report that they have yet to decide if they are pushing through with the friendly game.

Declaring that basketball is “a man’s game,” Petron import Eddie Basden said he’s not backing off from playing physical in the PBA Governors Cup which opened at the Ynares Center in Antipolo last Sunday.

Basden, 29, is known as a defense-oriented player and confirmed it in his PBA debut as Petron downed Powerade, 97-83, in the nightcap of the third conference’s inaugural twinbill. “It begins with defense and ends with defense,” he said. “We don’t want to look bad out there when guys are scoring on you. Before my first game, I had only three practices with our team. I was here last year but couldn’t play for Alaska as I measured about a quarter of an inch over the height limit of 6-4 for imports. I’m glad to be back.”

In the game against Powerade, Basden took on the Tigers’ highly-touted import Rashad McCants head-to-head from the opening tip. When the smoke of battle cleared, Basden had outplayed McCants with more points, 28-27, more rebounds, 10-6, more assists, 3-2, and more steals, 3-2. Basden held McCants to a single point in the second period and in the fourth quarter, fired 11 to seal the deal. As a team, Powerade was limited to a field goal clip of only .407 with McCants hitting only 7-of-23 for a .300 norm.

The new-look Petron Blaze Boosters started strong and ended strong, surviving a furious Powerade Tigers rally in the third quarter to win 97-83, Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo, on the opening day of the 2012 PBA Governor's Cup.

The Tigers missed their first eight field goal attempts, allowing Petron to build a 6-0 start that they inflated all the way to 23-14 on a score by their import, Eddie Basden.  But as they nursed a 28-22 lead early in the second quarter, Powerade came roaring back.

A pull-up triple by Gary David kickstarted a 9-2 run that gave Powerade their first lead of the game, 31-30, on a short jumper by their new center Rabeh Al-Hussaini, whom they acquired for Marcio Lassiter, from the very team they were playing.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters stormed out to a hot 14-5 start and never let up, burying the Alaska Aces early and often, 107-100, Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

It was an inauspicious start for new Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo in the opening match of the 2012 edition of the PBA Governor's Cup. In his first game after replacing former coach Joel Banal, his Aces fell behind by as much as 23 points in the second quarter, but some frenzied rally attempts in the second half will give his coaching staff something to highlight headed into their next games.

Thirteen first quarter points by Elasto Painters import Jamelle Cornley propped his side up after twelve minutes, 32-17, with Cornley canning a triple in the lost score of the period.

MANILA, Philippines — Marcio Lassiter reunites with Smart-Gilas teammate Chris Lutz when Petron Blaze begins its title defense against Powerade at the start of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

Plagued by injuries to key players, the Boosters failed to make the playoffs in the Commissioner’s Cup after winning only three of nine matches.

One of those losses – 98-88 — came from the Tigers, then led by Lassiter who sizzled with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Manila, Philippines - Petron Blaze shows up with a resurgent roster as it begins its title defense in the season-ending PBA Governors Cup where Alaska Milk begins life under a new coach.

The Aces play their first game under coach Luigi Trillo versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters while the Boosters start their title-retention bid against the Powerade Tigers today at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The Tigers and the Elasto Painters are tipped to draw attention in unveiling highly touted imports.

The Meralco Bolts are turning to an old reliable after experiencing a string of bad luck with import prospects for the Governors’ Cup.

The Bolts have signed an agreement with Champ Oguchi, who suited up for the team last season for parts of the Commissioner’s Cup and the Governors’ Cup where he averaged 28.3 points and 10.3 rebounds over 11 games.

Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio and Oguchi’s agent Sheryl Reyes both confirmed the news to InterAKTV.