Bulls shoot for place in Final 4

Red Bull goes for a sweep of Alaska Milk while Air21 and Talk n Text dispute the pivotal two-game-to-one lead in their own duel in the San Mig Coffee PBA Fiesta Cup quarterfinals phase today at the Astrodome.

If the Aces fail to neutralize James Penny, the Bulls could well take the short route to the Final Four, arranging another exciting playoff with old rival the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

Ginebra had to go through a tough semifinals duel with Red Bull before beating Talk n Text in the finals of another import-reinforced tourney early last year.

With a commanding two-game-to-nil lead in their best-of-five battle with Alaska, Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao said: "We will look bad if we don’t wrap it up."

The Phone Pals also feel confident they could make it to the next round following their acquisition of a new import in eight-year NBA veteran Darvin Ham.

"He gives us hopes. We’ll surely become a more exciting team because of him. He’ll be exciting to watch and we’re lucky to get him," said Talk n Text team manager Frankie Lim of their new import.

Ham, a product of Texas Tech who was a part of the 2004 NBA champion team the Detroit Pistons, arrived in the country Sunday and practiced with the Phone Pals Monday and yesterday morning. He was officially measured to be 6-foot-5 9/16 at the PBA office yesterday afternoon.

The Express, however, seemed to be unfazed by Ham’s arrival, confident they can sustain their charge for a possible breakthrough championship in the league in this tourney.

"We get wind of his arrival and we’re prepared against him," said Air21 coach Bo Perasol.

"Definitely, he has the skills. He won’t last eight seasons in the NBA if he’s just an ordinary player. But I told the boys that he should not be a distraction for us. We just have to focus on what’s we’ve been doing right," Perasol added.

The youthful Air21 mentor thought Talk n Text’s move may even work on the Express’ favor.

Ham has appeared cover article of the prestigious Sports Illustrated magazine. Before playing for Detroit, he had stints with Denver, Indiana, Washington, Milwaukee and Atlanta.

Lim said Ham’s arrival has raised their hopes of making the semifinals against Purefoods.