FROM his own viewpoint, Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio is
convinced the Giants allowed their last two games to slip from their grasp.
Not this time, vowed Gregorio, whose charges take on the Sta.
Lucia Realtors today in the Talk N Text-PBA Fiesta Cup today at the Ynares
Center in Antipolo City.
"We are determined to finish the game strong," Gregorio said
yesterday, noting their poor windup in their 77-80 loss to Coca-Cola last week
and 75-78 decision to San Miguel last Sunday.
Compared to Sta. Lucia, Purefoods is much, much better off.
The Realtors suffered their fifth straight loss last Wednesday, a 90-106
decision to Red Bull. Both teams need to win today to boost their respective
chances.
"Sta. Lucia is in the same predicament, we both need to win,"
Gregorio said.
Although Sta. Lucia downed Purefoods 102-95 last March 16 the
stakes are much higher this time around than mere revenge.
A win by Purefoods (4-9) will enable the team to move just
half-a-game behind seventh-running Coca-Cola (5-8) and give the Giants momentum
to aspire for one of the automatic quarterfinals berths.
A victory not only will snap Sta. Lucia (3-9) out of its rut,
it will also trade places with Purefoods.
Far loftier is the common goal of Ginebra (10-2) and Alaska
(10-4), which meet in the nightcap.
The Kings try to stretch their league-best winning streak to
seven games and move much closer to an automatic semifinal berth against the
Aces, who are just one game behind defending champion Red Bull (9-4) and Air21
(9-4).
The top two teams after the elimination qualify outright to
the semifinals. The third to fifth placed teams will advance to the
quarterfinals, while the sixth to ninth placed teams will battle in a knockout
format wild card stage. The 10th placed team will be automatically eliminated.
While the Kings are coming off a six-day layoff, the Aces
hope to make good use of their 100-98 win against the former in their first
meeting last March 11.
Alaska coach Tim Cone, however, knows it’s going to be
tougher this time.
"They’re playing pretty well and solid as a team," said Cone,
whose charges struggled on offense but managed to beat Welcoat 74-66 last
Sunday.
"We needed that win (against the Dragons) to gain confidence
against Ginebra. We have to match their intensity," added Cone.
As for Ginebra mentor Jong Uichico, he knows his team, which downed Air21
136-115 last May 5, needs to keep its focus to win a few more games and earn an
outright semis ticket.
