By Reuel Vidal

WHAT a difference a conference makes.

Recently crowned Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup champion Talk N Text tries to climb out of the bottom of the standings, where it is tied with Alaska Aces (0-2) with identical win-loss slates, when it faces Coca-Cola in the 4:50 p.m. opening game of the Motolite-PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome today.

Defending champion Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings battle the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the 7:30 p.m. main game.

The Tropang Texters will be looking to post their first victory after two stinging defeats suffered at the hands of the Purefoods Tender Juicy, 121-131, on March 1; and the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 100-106, five days later.

The loss to the Realtors was especially painful because Sta. Lucia broke into the win column despite the absence of injured key players Dennis Espino and Ryan Reyes.

Sta. Lucia import Anthony Johnson, Kelly Williams, Joseph Yeo, Marlou Aquino, Paolo Mendoza and Norman Gonzales all scored in double digits to provide the balanced scoring needed by the Realtors to win.

Talk N Text import Tiras Wade continued to acquit himself well with a team-high 29 markers. But defense continued to be the bane of the Tropang Texters. Johnson, Sta. Lucia?s sweet-shooting import, rifled in three straight baskets as the Realtors surged ahead for good, 102-97, with time down to 27 seconds.

Probably still euphoric after their stirring come-from-behind victory over the Aces where the Tropang Texters overhauled a 2-3 playoff deficit to prevail in seven games, the Tropang Texters must wake up from their funk or face early elimination in the shorter 14-game elimination round schedule.

Talk N Text?s local players Jimmy Alapag, Ali Peek, and Ranidel de Ocampo as well as rookies Jason Castro and Jared Dillinger must dial up their intensity if they hope to advance to the playoffs.

A victory for Coke will propel the Tigers to a tie at third place with the Burger King Titans (2-1) behind the San Miguel Beermen (2-0) and the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants (2-0).

A victory for TNT?now tied at the bottom of the standings ironically with PBA Philippine Cup second placer Alaska Aces with identical zero-win, two-loss cards?will propel TNT to a tie at eighth place with the Barako Bulls (1-2).

Meanwhile, the defending Fiesta Conference champion Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings try to follow up their 110-103 victory over the Coca-Cola Tigers last March 4 when they go up against Sta. Lucia Realtors in the 7:30 p.m. main game.