BY NOLI CORTEZ
THIS is one rare instance where Yeng Guiao, a noted coach and
politician, couldn’t care less about numbers.
For the Red Bull mentor, there’s just one nagging thought
going into his team’s repeat match against Coca-Cola today in the Smart PBA
Philippine Cup at the Astrodome.
"Gusto ko lang manalo, maitawid ang laro namin bukas," said
Guiao yesterday of the match that could make or break his team’s bid to grab the
last remaining automatic semifinals berth.
"Iyung mga complications, standings, stats, we’re not looking
at those things," he stressed. "We’ve been struggling too much for us to occupy
our minds with other matters."
In its last outing, Red Bull dropped a 110-115 decision to
Ginebra, a loss that came after the Bulls absorbed a 77-100 drubbing from Alaska
on Christmas Day. It was only the second time in the conference the Bulls lost
two straight.
Actually, the Bulls have lost four of their last six matches
since Dec. 5, when they dropped a 92-98 decision to the same team they are
facing today.
"We’re not even looking at those things," Guiao insisted.
"Our main concern is playing good against Coke."
The knowledge the Photokina franchise always bounces back
strong from a loss gnawed at Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis.
"It’s going to be tough playing Red Bull, especially since
they’re coming off back-to-back losses," Favis said. "We need to work doubly
hard to gain a good chance against them."
The Tigers are also coming off an 87-101 beating from
Purefoods last Sunday, their second straight defeat that put them on the verge
of being formally relegated into the knockout wildcard phase.
For them to avoid the wildcard pitfalls, Favis and his
charges must win their last two eliminations games and hope eight wins will be
enough to earn them one of the outright quarterfinals seats. Their last match in
the eliminations will be against Talk N Text.
Equally uneasy is Air21, tied with Coke at No. 8, which goes
up against Welcoat in the other game.
On a nine-game losing streak, the Dragons are already out of
contention but this offers little comfort to the Express who still have to take
on streaking Sta. Lucia Realty in their last eliminations game.
"There’s nothing more dangerous than a team that has nothing more to lose,"
noted Express coach Bo Perasol, whose team prevailed over the Dragons 88-80 last
Dec. 2.
