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FOUR
teams coming off thrilling victories take center stage
as the Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta
Conference elimination round resumes today at the
Araneta Coliseum.
The
Welcoat Dragons, a team that recently ended an
ignominious 15-game losing streak, will eye a rare
repeat victory as they take on perennial favorite
Magnolia Beverage Masters in the
4:50 p.m. first game.
The 7:20
matchup will be a battle for the top spot as current
leader Coca-Cola Tigers take on the ever-surprising Red
Bull Barakos.
The
Dragons, led by a personal conference-high 16 points of
rookie Joe Devance, finally snared their first victory
this conference at the expense of Purefoods TJ Giants,
110-103, on April 20 at the Araneta Coliseum. Though
import Marquies Gainous top-scored for the Dragons in
that win, Devance made the most crucial baskets as he
poured in nine points during the decisive final quarter.
“I don’t
know how to do this. Now, I know the feeling of a
winning coach here in the PBA,” Dragons coach Caloy
Garcia said.
Garcia
replaced Leo Austria who resigned just a few weeks
before the ongoing conference opened shop.
Magnolia
coach Siot Tanquincen is wary about how the Dragons play
defense, which may not jibe well for the Beverage
Masters if ever they come in not fully prepared.
“We
can’t afford to come out flat and unfocused because they
[Welcoat] put good pressure,” said Tanquincen, whose
troops toppled Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, 95-92, on
April 20.
Magnolia, which owns a decent win-loss record of 3-2,
will miss the services of superstar Danny Seigle due to
a recurring Achilles injury. His status, according to
Tanquincen, is day to day.
Coke,
meanwhile, plans to solidify its hold of the top spot
but the Binky Favis-mentored squad will be in for a
tough night as they will be up against a bunch of
supposed castoffs molded into one fighting unit through
the brilliance of head coach Yeng Guiao.
“It’s
never easy playing Red Bull. Our chance tomorrow is
directly proportional to our defensive execution and
pride,” said Favis.
Coke,
led by import Jason Dixon’s 27 points and 13 rebounds,
notched their fifth win in six outings and the overall
leadership by defeating Philippine Cup champion Sta.
Lucia, 95-88, on April 23 at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Red Bull
tallied their fourth triumph in six games with a 100-97
win over the Alaska Aces on April 19, in an out-of-town
game at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in
Laoag City.
“We will
have matchup problems against them because they are
bigger than we are in all positions except the ‘five’
with [Adam] Parada,” said Guiao.
In their
win against the Aces, Red Bull relied on top gun Cyrus
Baguio who had a brilliant all-around game with 24
points, five rebounds and six assists. Parada, Red
Bull’s seven-foot Mexican import, contributed 19 points
and 15 rebounds.
The
league just concluded a successful All-Star Week last
weekend in Bacolod City that saw the South squad beating
the North team, 163-158, in overtime. |
