Underdog Ginebra faces San Miguel

By Waylon Galvez

Coaches Boyet Fernandez of Sta. Lucia Realty and Siot Tanquingcen of San Miguel Beer are not going to be deceived by all the pre-playoff hype swirling around them.

Given the decisive edge over dangerous and crowd-fancied opponents, the Realtors and the Beermen nonetheless go into Game One of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals today on guard and on the lookout for the swinging upset axe.

Veteran Sta. Lucia battles the playoff first-timer Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 5 p.m. while powerhouse San Miguel clashes with the shorthanded Barangay Ginebra Kings at 5:30 p.m. as the best-of-three series gets underway at the Araneta Coliseum.

The winner of the Rain or Shine-Sta. Lucia series will face off with top seed Alaska Milk in the first half of the best-of-seven semifinals, while No. 2 Talk ‘N Text welcomes the victor of the San Miguel-Ginebra encounter in the other pairing.

The Aces and the Tropang Texters earned automatic berths in the semifinals by finishing with the best two records (12-6 and 11-7, respectively) at the end of elimination.

Sta. Lucia, Rain or Shine and Ginebra are outright quarterfinal qualifiers while San Miguel caught the last plane out of the wildcard phase, leaving behind the shattered ruins of the Coca-Cola Tigers and the Air21 Express.

"Rain or Shine is a strong team; they are one of the best offensive teams right now," said Fernandez, whose team split its head-to-head encounter with their playoff rivals.

The Realtors won their first meeting, 88-85, on Nov. 14, but the Elasto Painters evened matters with a nail-biting 80-79 win last Dec. 3.

"We have to play our defense and be ready for anything," Fernandez added.

Sta. Lucia playmaker Ryan Reyes, last season’s Rookie of the Year, is a doubtful starter due to a recurring back injury while veteran forward Dennis Espino has a fever but Fernandez said the veteran center will play.

Fernandez also expects solid games from 2008 Most Valuable Player Kelly Williams, as well as energy providers Joseph Yeo, Bitoy Omolon, and Denok Miranda, and seniors Marlou Aquino and Paolo Mendoza.

After a forgettable first two seasons since joining the pro league in 2006, the team owned by Terry Que and Raymund Yu is basking in the glow of a first playoff appearance.

Rain or Shine, starring rookies Gabe Norwood and Sol Mercado, nearly made it as automatic semifinalist, falling short in the stretch with a 10-8 win-loss card, a record shared by Sta. Lucia and Ginebra.

"We’re all positive about it," said Caloy Garcia, on his second conference as mentor of Rain or Shine. "It’s a good challenge for our young team playing the defending champs and a veteran team.

"The players have been working hard during the long break, and we feel confident going to the game. We expect it to be physical."

Garcia will also lean on his other young guns, including third year center Jay-R Reyes, sophomores Ryan Arana and Jireh Ibanez, and rookie guard TY Tang, as well as veterans Rob Wainwright and Allan Salansang.

Tanquingcen, who once called the shots for Ginebra, brushes off the favorite tag.

"Knowing Ginebra, they are a team that fights with whatever they have so don’t believe that they’re easy to beat because of injuries," the Beermen mentor said.

"We have to come into the game mentally tough and stay focused on playing the game the right way."

The Fiesta Cup champion Kings made it to the quarterfinals despite missing key players Mark Caguioa (tendinitis) and Rafi Reavis (bruised shoulder), and continue to be hobbled.

"We are playing with some aches and pains. We have got to come up with our perfect game," Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said.

Uichico hopes to get consistent play from veterans Fiesta Cup Best Player of the Conference Jayjay Helterband, as well as Fiesta Cup co-Finals MVPs, forward Eric Menk and guard Ronald Tubid.

The Beermen survived two do-or-die matches in the knockout wildcard phase by beating the Tigers (99-89) and the Express (105-86) last Sunday.

Underdog Ginebra faces San Miguel

Underdog Ginebra faces San Miguel

Underdog Ginebra faces San Miguel :: Comments