MANILA, 15 October 2007 — A new name, the same result.

Magnolia, the team formerly known as San Miguel, whipped up a storm in the second half last night to bring down athletic Air21, 121-112, at the start of the PBA Philippine Cup before a big Araneta Coliseum crowd.

Danny Seigle pumped in 28 points as the Beverage Masters, runners-up to Barangay Ginebra here last year and the side labelled by most as the one to beat, steamrollered their way past the Express in the only game scheduled on opening night.

Air21 built a lead of as many as 10 points late in the third period only to succumb in the face of a hard Magnolia stand in the fourth, the very character that has given this franchise an all-time best 17 titles in a rich history.

Enrico Villanueva tossed in 20 markers to back up Seigle, who signalled his return to the Magnolia lineup with a vintage performance that came just when the Beverage Masters needed it.

Dondon Hontiveros, who like Seigle rejoined the Beverage Masters after playing for flag and country in several international tournaments last year, had 15 points, the bulk of them scored in teaming up with Seigle in the second half.

The 30-year-old Hontiveros scored 12 of his total in the third period where Magnolia erased a 55-65 deficit to take an 86-81 lead heading into the payoff frame.

“They were shooting the lights out and hurting us in transition,” said Magnolia coach Siot Tanquingcen. “As one of the most athletic teams in the league, Air21 is really hard to contain with its flexible lineup.” Quite a disappointment for the Express, though, was the much-ballyhooed JC Intal, the rookie out of Ateneo who was picked fourth overall in the Draft to give Air21 a fearsome 1-2-3 backcourt rotation together with KG Canaleta and Arwind Santos.

The 6-foot-4, high-leaping swingman was held down to just five points by the Magnolia defense, quite far from the numbers he posted during the pre-season tournament.

Canaleta, the three-time Slam Dunk champion, was his usual self in pacing the Express with a career-high 32 points, while Santos, his problems in a legal court with his first wife notwithstanding, scattered 21.

But despite the setback, the Express showed a lot of promise out there as they stayed toe-to-toe with the seasoned Beverage Masters only to wilt at the time when it truly mattered.

“This shows us something of what this team is capable of doing,” Air21 coach Bo Perasol told Arab News on the way to his car. “We just need some time to jell as a team and adjust to the roles which we need to play. “I know there is no such thing as a good loss, but this one could be it,” he added.

Last night’s game was the highest scoring season-opener since defunct Presto beat another disbanded side in Swift, 120-118, during the 1992 season.

And it highlighted how effective the change in rules is as the league tinkered on the measurements of the playing floor to make the game more exciting because of the high scores.

“We have to deal with it. Everybody plays under the same rules so I see no problem with it,” said Tanquingcen.

The scores:

Magnolia (121) Seigle 28, Villanueva 20, Hontiveros 15, Fonacier 11, Tugade 11, Ildefonso 11, Tenorio 9, Racela 8, Eman 5, Wesley 3, Wilson 0.

Air21 (112) Canaleta 32, Santos 21, Arboleda 15, Dimaunahan 9, Se 8, Cruz 7, Soto 6, Intal 5, De Ocampo 4, Kramer 3, Baluyot 2, Chia 0.

Quarters: 25-32, 52-56, 86-81, 121-112.