By Reuel Vidal

THE Alaska Aces and the Talk N Text Tropang Texters, opening-day victors, will be looking to hike their leads against their playoff opponents in the semifinals of the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup today at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces, who trounced the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 92-76, last Wednesday, will take the floor against the Realtors in the 7:30 p.m. main game.

The Talk N Text Tropang Texters will also try to follow-up their rousing 129-100 victory when they battle the San Miguel Beermen in the opening 5 p.m. game.

Though holding a 1-0 lead, a cautious Alaska coach Tim Cone said his team cannot afford to relax against the Realtors.

?When we played them a year ago in the All-Filipino, we also won Game 1 easily. But soon after, we turned around and lost Games 2 and 3. Our goal this time is come back and follow-up that victory. We have to be stronger mentally than we were last year,? said Cone.

The Alaska mentor said the Aces want to redeem themselves against the Realtors, who eliminated them in seven games during the semifinals of the 2008 Philippine Cup en route to the title.