The Kings play the Purefoods Chunkee Giants who suffered a numbing 66-88 defeat at the hands of the Talk n Text Phone Pals before a near capacity crowd of mostly overseas Filipino workers at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong.
The Bulls, on the other hand, battle the Sta. Lucia Realtors, who are fresh from a breakthrough win over the Air21 Express at the Astrodome Friday.
Red Bull and Sta. Lucia clash at 4:40 p.m. then Ginebra and Purefoods slug it out at 7:35 p.m.
The Kings are looking to stay within striking distance of the Coca-Cola Tigers who are on a remarkable four-game rampage, the only unbeaten team in the nine-team field. Coca-Cola nailed its fourth win via a 75-72 decision over San Miguel Beer also Sunday at the Big Dome.
The Tigers, last placers in the league’s last two tournaments, have suddenly emerged as among the hot contenders in the battle for the two outright semis slots being contested in the double-round classification phase of the All-Filipino tourney.
Red Bull tries to boost its own stock against Sta. Lucia in a game that will be marked by the return of Lordy Tugade from sickbay.
The team’s No. 1 local scorer in their Fiesta Cup conquest, Tugade missed their last game against Alaska last Wednesday due to a fever. But the Bulls bucked the absence of the former National U Bulldogs forward with Rich Alvarez making a good show against his former Alaska teammates.
Doubtful starter is Sta. Lucia’s Kenneth Duremdes who hurt his right foot in their game against Air21 late in the fourth quarter Friday. Duremdes exploded for 30 points but had to sit out the last five minutes of the contest.
The Realtors squandered early double-digit leads but salvaged the game on endgame heroics of Bitoy Omolon and Chester Tolomia.
Sta. Lucia coach Alfrancis Chua said he has applied new system in the team and their idea right now is to improve every game.
"We’re not looking to win. We’re looking to improve game after game. Winning games hopefully would follow," said Chua.