BARAKO Bull faces another tough opponent, this time former All-Filipino champion Talk ’N Text, in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
After ending the unbeaten run of league-leader Alaska the last time out, the Energy test the mettle of perennial powerhouse Tropang Texters as they clash in the first game at 3 p.m.
In the main game, Meralco also tries to follow up on its big win against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel as it battles defending champion Purefoods at 5:15 p.m. After losing its first five assignments, Barako Bull suddenly stormed into contention after winning its last two games, including an 85-78 upset of the Aces.
“We can’t afford to relax. We just have to push our activity level a notch higher just to keep up with them [leaders],” said Energy Head Coach Koy Banal, whose wards are trying to get some distance over the bottom two teams in the standings.
“We have to be ready because Talk ’N Text is coming off a loss and we expect them to come out strong,” Banal added. The Tropang Texters saw their four-game winning streak snapped by GlobalPort, absorbing a 97-105 defeat to drop in the standings with a 4-3 won-lost record.
The team of Head Coach Jong Uichico needs the win badly to stay in the upper half of the 12-team field.
Meanwhile, the Bolts of Head Coach Norman Black arrested a three-game slide with an impressive 109-99 shellacking of the Kings on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City to hike their own mark to 4-3.
“We’re still in the running. We just need to settle down and make an effort every day,” said Black, who drew solid games from Cliff Hodge, Mark Macapagal, Gary David, Jarred Dillinger and Reynel Hugnatan against Ginebra.
Hodge (18 points), Macapagal (18), David (16), Dillinger (15) and Hugnatan (12) all hit double figures in scoring, but their defense on the Kings’ vaunted frontline was the key in silencing the most popular team in the country.
They will be up against the Hotshots, who finally nailed their first back-to-back wins in the tournament after beating Blackwater, 90-82, to reach the .500 mark with a 3-3 record.
“This will be a crucial game for us. We need to build a momentum at this point,” 18-time champion Coach Tim Cone of his team.