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REMATCH between teams which figured in last conference’s
championship tops today’s twin bill in the
Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta
Conference that is gradually shifting to a frenzied
stage.
Philippine Cup champions Sta. Lucia hopes to reenact its
All-Filipino dominance over Purefoods as they battle
each other at 7:20 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.
Although
they finished as the top two teams last conference, the
Realtors and the Giants are surprisingly toiling in the
lower half of the skin-tight standings with five playing
dates remaining in the elimination round.
Both
teams are already out of the running for the first two
automatic semifinals slot but are still in contention
for an outright quarterfinal seat.
“We have
to do it the hard way. We are already in the playoffs
[mentally] and we are not going to give up,” said
Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.
Purefoods (7-9) beat Sta. Lucia (7-8), 82-74, in their
first encounter this conference on May 25 at the Cuneta
Astrodome. At that time, however, the Realtors played
with the erratic Wesley Wilson, who, in that game,
contributed numbers not typical of an import of 10
points and six rebounds. Wilson was soon replaced by
another ineffective import, Jamar Brown.
For
their second-round showdown, Sta. Lucia hopes to get
more solid games from their third reinforcement this
conference, Lee Benson, who in their last game played
big with 22 points and 28 rebounds (13 offensive) in a
95-75 trouncing of a then-streaking Alaska Aces on
Wednesday.
“Our
team is in high spirits. Hopefully we can sustain the
intensity we showed when we played Alaska the last time
because we know Purefoods will be tough to beat,” said
Realtors coach Boyet Fernandez. “Lee is adjusting very
well and his intensity really rubs off to his
teammates.”
While
the Realtors are expected to show confidence, the same
cannot be entirely said about the Giants, a team that is
coming off a painful 102-101 loss to struggling Talk ’N
Text on Friday.
“Consistency remains a challenge for us. It has been a
roller-coaster ride but we are determined to take off
and finish strong,” said Gregorio.
Meanwhile, the Alaska Aces and the Coca-Cola Tigers try
to get back on the winning track as they face off in the
4:50 p.m. opener.
Alaska
(8-7) and Coca-Cola (9-7) are coming off losses with the
Aces bowing to the Realtors, while the Tigers
surrendering to Magnolia, 81-77, on Friday. |
