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THE Talk
’N Text Phone Pals have the solo leadership in mind as
they go up against struggling but still dangerous
Purefoods TJ Giants in the main game of the
Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta
Conference tonight at the Ynares Center in Antipolo
City.
The
Phone Pals, mentored by national team coach Chot Reyes,
are coming off a scintillating 90-80 win over Philippine
Cup title-holder Sta. Lucia Realty in Cagayan de Oro.
Talk ’N
Text has been showing a semblance of poise down the
stretch in its last few games, especially in its game
against Sta. Lucia. In that encounter, the Phone Pals
nearly blew a 22-point lead but survived mainly because
of Mac-Mac Cardona’s scoring exploits that helped thwart
the Realtors.
Previous
to that, Talk ’N Text also fended off a fierce attack by
crowd-favorites Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the dying
minutes of their May 11 face-off at the Araneta Coliseum
with the Phone Pals eventually prevailing, 105-95.
Talk ’N
Text, which is currently tied with Red Bull with
identical 7-3 records, has won five of its last six
games and hopes to ride that momentum as the tournament
closes the first round and shifts into the more
competitive second phase.
With its
3-5 record, Purefoods is just one-and-a-half games ahead
of the Welcoat Dragons and two games above
cellar-dweller Ginebra. But with a win tonight, the
Giants will have a good shot at securing a place in the
upper half of the standings where Sta. Lucia, Magnolia
and Air21 are currently jammed in a three-way tie from
fourth to sixth spots with a 5-4 record.
“The
distinct advantage of Talk ’N Text is the confidence
level coming into the game because of their
league-leading standings,” said Purefoods coach Ryan
Gregorio.
Purefoods recently replaced Darius Rice with seven-foot
Morrocan Reda Ralimi, who debuted with 14 points and 12
rebounds in an 88-78 win versus Alaska on May 10 in
Calape, Bohol. The Giants, however, lost to Magnolia,
88-81, Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.
“They
are battling for supremacy, we are fighting for
survival. As it is, there is a stronger sense of urgency
for us to perform above expectations,” said Gregorio.
Meanwhile in today’s opener, Air21 and Magnolia try to
wiggle out of a three-way tie as they battle in the
4:50 p.m. curtain-raiser.
“They
are a good rebounding team. And we have to make sure we
play smart because they are a very athletic team. If we
try to play in their style, there’s a pretty good chance
we won’t win,” said Magnolia coach Siot Tanquingcen.
The
Express are also coming off a win against the Coca-Cola
Tigers, 104-86, just last Friday
“We have
to do a better job of defending the wing men of
Magnolia. Most of them are efficient outside shooters,”
said Air21 coach Bo Perasol. |
