By Reuel Vidal

THE Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings hope to get another standout performance from import Rod Nealy when they gun for solo leadership of the Motolite-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference against the Burger King Titans at 7:30 p.m. today at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Barako Bulls and the Coca-Cola Tigers try to bounce back from opening-game losses when they clash in the 4:50 p.m. opening match.

Nealy unloaded 42 points and grabbed 23 rebounds to power the Gin Kings past the Coca-Cola Tigers, 110-103, last Wednesday at the Antipolo Ynares Center.

A victory will propel them to the top of the standings with two victories and no losses.

Expected to provide Nealy with plenty of support are Sunday Salvacion, Jayjay Helterbrand and Paul Artadi. The trio produced double-digit scores to lead the Gin Kings to victory against zone-playing Tigers.

The Gin Kings will face solid competition against the Burger King Titans, who trounced the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 96-87, in the Fiesta Conference?s opening game held at the Dumaguete City.

Sporting a new name, but displaying the same gritty brand of play it displayed as the Air21 Express, the Titans pulled away from a close game midway through the third quarter and went on to win the contest comfortably.

Gary David, Shawn Daniels, Arwind Santos and Cyrus Baguio all scored at least 12 points each to negate the 32-point, 20-rebound explosion of Sta. Lucia import Anthony Johnson and give new coach Yeng Guiao a winning start.

Meanwhile, the Barako Bulls and the Tigers try to bounce back from heartbreaking opening game losses when they clash at 4:50 p.m.

The locals of the Barako Bulls will have to step up in support of import Scooter McFadgon. The smallest import in the conference who measures a shade below 6?4? on his stockinged feet, McFadgon detonated 41 points in their losing effort. Only Carlo Sharma could score in double figures for the Barako Bulls with 16 markers to go with nine rebounds.