Matchups, rivalries couldn’t get any more exciting

A rematch of a memorable semifinal series and a match-up pitting two of the Philippine Basketball Association's powerhouse ballclubs.

The 2008-09 KFC Philippine Cup Final Four couldn't have been any better.

Defending champion Sta. Lucia relives its budding rivalry with top-ranked Alaska while No. 2 seed Talk `N Text clashes with surging survivor San Miguel Beer in an exciting pair of best-of-seven showdowns serving as a fitting climax to the season-opening meet.

"Pampagana pa lang `yung wild card and quarterfinal series natin because the semifinals are even more exciting. So I hope PBA fans would enjoy it," said league commissioner Sonny Barrios.

The Final Four begins Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum, barely three days after the Beermen came back from 21 points down to oust the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 98-93, in their thrilling knockout game for the last semifinals berth.

Dondon Hontiveros sizzled during the best-of-three series, averaging 27.7 points per game, on 52.4 percent shooting from three-point range and 50 percent overall shooting from the floor.

Against Talk `N Text, the 6-foot-2 Cebuano gunner is expected to engage in a shooting duel with league scoring leader Mac Mac Cardona.

A subplot to the match up is the meeting between Talk `N Text coach Chot Reyes and San Miguel, the same team he steered to a runner-up finish in the same tournament two years ago, ditto with Beerman Jay Washington up against his former teammates after the Tropang Texters traded the 6-foot-7 forward to their rival franchise prior to the start of the season.

Just as interesting is the Realtors-Aces face-off.

The two engaged in a fierce, hotly-contested semis series a year ago that went the full route and won by Sta. Lucia on its way to bagging the PBA's most coveted championship.

The encounter is expected to revive the coaching duel between Boyet Fernandez of Sta. Lucia and Alaska's Tim Cone, whose word war stemming from a Kelly Williams slam dunk in the waning seconds of Game 2 which the Realtors won, added fire and drama to the best-of-seven affair.

Williams, veteran big men Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino, Nelbert Omolon and gung-ho guard Joseph Yeo will be back to spearhead the team's bid to become the first back-to-back champion of the Philippine Cup since Great Taste in 1985.

But seeking payback and out to thwart the Realtors' bid for a shot at history are the well-rested Aces, who got even bigger and versatile this season following the off-season acquisition of Joe Devance.

For finishing as the top two teams at the end of the eliminations, both Alaska and Talk `N Text earned outright berths to the semis.


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