THE Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings battle the defending champion Talk N Text Tropang Texters in the 7:30 p.m. main game of the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum today.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Coca-Cola Tigers try to avoid the cellar when they meet in the opening 5 p.m. match.
The ever-popular Gin Kings (5 wins, 2 losses) will be looking to catch up with the San Miguel Beermen (7-2) at second place behind the league-leading Alaska Aces (8-1).
The other teams include the Sta. Lucia Realtors (5-3), Talk n Text (4-3), the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants (4-4), the Burger King Whoppers (3-5), the Barako Bull Energy Boosters (2-7), Coca-Cola (1-6) and Rain or Shine (1-7).
The Gin Kings will be looking to bounce back after they bowed to Sta. Lucia last Wednesday. Fatigue caught up with Ginebra as the Realtors snapped the three-game winning streak of the Gin Kings. This time around, the Gin Kings get the benefit of a full week of rest.
Expected to lead the Gin Kings are big men Eric Menk, Billy Mamaril and Rico Villanueva as well as talented swingmen Ronald Tubid, JC Intal and Cyrus Baguio.
The defending champion Tropang Texters will also be looking to bounce back after a stinging defeat suffered at the hands of the Alaska Aces last Friday. Upset by cellar-dweller Rain or Shine in their previous game, Alaska Milk gained redemption with a close win over the reigning all-Filipino champion.
Alaska lost a 21-point third-quarter lead, but regrouped to beat Talk N Text. Jimmy Alapag almost willed the Tropang Texters to victory against the Aces. He is expected to again lead his team. Teaming up with Alapag are Ali Peek, Nic Belasco and the De Ocampo brothers: Ranidel and Yancy.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola battle to avoid 10th place when they meet in the 5 p.m. opening match.
Avoiding last place is crucial because only the last place team will be eliminated outright after the two-round eliminations. The four teams in sixth to ninth places will battle in a sudden-death knockout for the right to advance to the four-team quarterfinal phase.
Rain or Shine will lean on their Fil-Am pair of Gabe Norwood and Sol Mercado as well as young guns Ryan Arana, TY Tang, Jeff Chan and franchise player JayR Reyes.
The Coca-Cola Tigers, with main man Asi Taulava expected to return during the third week of December, will rely on talented Alex Cabagnot, new recruits Dennis Espino, Norman Gonzales, Marvin Cruz and Ken Bono as well as rookies Chris Ross and Francis Allera.
