BalotSports.info

MANILA, Philippines - Action in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup resumes tonight at the Araneta Coliseum with four teams going all out for crucial wins and the needed momentum heading to the homestretch of the double-round elimination phase.

Sta. Lucia Realty battles Rain or Shine in the 5 p.m. opener while Talk n Text takes on crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra at 7:30 p.m. in matches tipped to go down-to-the-wire as they jockey for position for the playoffs.

Smart Gilas plays Purefoods Tender Juicy at 2:30 p.m., marking the RP developmental team’s farewell game in its guest stint in the all-Filipino tourney.

The Tropang Texters, the Kings and the Realtors shoot for victories to boost their respective drives for a spot in the Magic Five while the Elasto Painters try to enhance their bid for the wildcard phase.

Only 10 playdates and a total of 18 games are left in the preliminary phase which determines the two automatic semifinalists, three outright quarterfinals qualifiers and four teams which will slug it out in the wildcard round.


San Miguel Beer, with a 12-3 win-loss card, and Alaska Milk, at 11-2, have the inside track for the two outright semis seats.

Mathematically, Talk n Text, Ginebra, Purefoods and Sta. Lucia are still in the race on the premise they sweep their remaining games.

Bracing for the crucial matches, all teams worked hard in practice during the holidays and all are raring to plunge back into action.

“We just couldn’t afford to relax. There’s a job to be done,” said coach Boyet Fernandez who’s Sta. Lucia team is beaten by Talk n Text in their last game before Christmas last Dec. 23.

The Tropang Texters and the Kings are both determined to pick up where they left off last December.

The Texters won their last two games against the Purefoods Giants and the Realtors while the Kings topped the Coca-Cola Tigers, 106-97, in their last game.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said they have a job cut out for them against the Texters, who whipped them by 15 points in their previous encounter.

“They’re a scoring machine and we have to be able to match it,” said Uichico.

Focus will be on the Jimmy Alapag-Johnny Abarrientos matchup at the backcourt while Macmac Cardona and Ronald Tubid are expected to figure in a shootout in a duel of the leading contenders for the Best Player of the Conference award.

Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand have re-joined the Kings in practice but they remain doubtful starters. Caguioa has been reactivated in place of Doug Kramer.

Tubid has taken the cudgels for Ginebra in the absence of Caguioa, Helterbrand and Junthy Valenzuela. Also providing a big help are Cyrus Baguio and JC Intal.

Source: Nelson Beltran  | Philstar.com