The third conference of the 2011-2012 PBA season kicks off Sunday and with it comes a new set of exciting storylines and sensational players to follow. But before the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the Alaska Aces, the Petron Blaze Boosters and the Powerade Tigers try to jump-start the Governor's Cup with a win, here are 10 locals to keep an eye on, as they look to play key roles in their respective teams' success.

10. Nelbert Omolon—Air21 Express
Commissioner's Cup averages: 28.67 minutes, 12.22 points, 5.67 rebounds, 0.89 assists, 0.56 steals, 0.78 blocks

An early 3-2 record had everyone thought the Air21 Express, formerly the winless Shopinas.com Clickers, had turned the corner. Instead, they sank like a stone in their remaining four games, getting blown out by an average of 21 points.

MANILA, Philippines - A varsity teammate of NBA star Blake Griffin is set to arrive in Manila today and report for duty as Meralco’s import in the PBA Governors Cup starting Sunday. Juan Pattillo, who played alongside Griffin with the University of Oklahoma Sooners in 2008-09, was signed up by the Bolts after early pick Devin Green measured over the height limit of 6-5 and last conference’s import Tim Pickett backed out after twisting his ankle in a pick-up game.

Green of Hampton University flew in last weekend with a doctor’s certification that he’s 6-5 even as record books show his height to be 6-7. “Unfortunately, when we had him measured using our PBA procedure, he was 6-6,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio. “He took the next available flight back to the US.”

Green, 29, would’ve been a key addition to the Bolts roster. He played 27 games for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005-06 and gained valuable experience as an import in Germany, Italy, Belgium and Bulgaria.

The Spark is back. Almost.

Even though he hasn’t recovered 100 percent from an eye injury, Barangay Ginebra superstar Mark Caguioa has been cleared to go back on the court, according to team executive Robert Non.

“He has joined the practice and has undergone a test on his eye injury. Next week, he will go to another test, but right now, mukhang gumaganda na pakiramdam niya,” said Non.

MANILA, Philippines - Barangay Ginebra guard Mark Caguioa, who won the award as best player of the just-ended PBA conference, has recently rejoined the team’s practice, although it remains uncertain if he will play in the season-ending Governors’ Cup that starts Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

Ginebra mentor Siot Tanquingcen said yesterday that the 6-foot-1 guard was finally given the ‘green light’ by doctors to join the team’s training but was advised to do it gradually so as not to aggravate his injured right eye.

“We’ll see how he will respond,” Tanquingcen told the Bulletin in a phone interview. “According to Mark’s doctors, it should be gradual. Then after two weeks, he’ll be re-evaluated and will go from there if he can really play.”

PBA media bureau chief and special assistant to the commissioner Willie Marcial denied yesterday that Talk ‘N’ Text boycotted the recent All-Star Weekend in Laoag City, adding that the absence of representatives from the Tropa was advised as early as Game 4 of the Commissioner’s Cup finals last May 2.

Texters coach Chot Reyes, tapped to call the shots for the Veterans in the All-Star Game last Sunday, told the PBA he could not make it to Laoag because of a previously scheduled trip to Los Angeles where he had to do work for the MVP Sports Foundation and the Smart Gilas team. Reyes, the MVP Sports Foundation and Gilas head coach, left Manila the day after Game 7. Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio took over Reyes’ spot in the All-Star Game.

Marcial said the PBA was also advised that Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro and Jared Dillinger wouldn’t be able to join the All-Star extravaganza. “There was definitely no boycott,” said Marcial. “We were advised long before the finals ended by (Texters team manager) Aboy Castro so their absence had nothing to do with the outcome of the playoffs.”

The Powerade Tigers were a picture of perfect team chemistry when they went on a Cinderella run to the finals of the Philippine Cup.

But with two players with less than stellar reputations coming into the team, observers wonder if it would have an adverse effect on the team.

Powerade coach Bo Perasol, however, isn’t worried.

MANILA, Philippines – Petron Blaze is confident in its PBA Governor's Cup title retention bid, now that it boasts of a full roster.

Aside from having a good import and new players, Boosters coach Ato Agustin said they now have a full and healthy lineup.

"Parang ang dali sa mata ng coach hawakan ang team ngayon," Agustin said in PBA.ph.