BY NOLI CORTEZ

DEFENDING champion Red Bull tries to pick up from where it left off when it takes on Talk N Text anew today in their TNT-PBA Fiesta Cup semifinals duel at the Astrodome.

The Bulls are still on a high after scoring a cruising 111-104 win last Wednesday, stopping the Phone Pals’ two-game win streak in the best-of-seven series and reducing it to a race-to-two affair.

Having more of a cushion is Alaska, which tries to finish off San Miguel Beer in the nightcap.

The Aces scored a 93-87 win also last Wednesday to take a 3-1. Yet coach Tim Cone remained wary.

"Closing out a series is the hardest thing to do," said Cone, whose team lost to Purefoods in last year’s Philippine Cup semifinals despite toting the same series lead. "We just got to do whatever we can. I know my guys will."

While the Aces managed to keep their opponents on the ropes–and possibly down for the count–the Phone Pals didn’t, and this could be a grave mistake.

Phone Pals coach Derick Pumaren acknowledged the fact his players had lapses the last time, especially in the early goings, and paid for it dearly, trailing by as much as 40-22, a hole that proved too deep to get out of.

"We can’t start the way we started (in Game 4)," Pumaren said yesterday. "We have to do a great job on transition defense and covering the open man."

Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao said their Game 4 win served other purposes as well.

"For one, it gave us our confidence back and, second, it reversed the momentum of Talk N Text," said Guiao.

"So, going into the best-of-three on Friday, we will try to ride on our confidence again."

In the league’s previous best-of-seven series that were tied after four games, 21 of the 27 teams that won Game 5 went on to win the series and the importance of today’s game is not lost on the coaches.

"It’s a pivotal game," said Pumaren.