Purefoods,Coke try to catch SMB at helm
April 5, 2006 | 12:00am
Purefoods and Coca-Cola take on separate rivals as they seek to regain a share of the lead with San Miguel Beer in the Gran Matador Brandy PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum tonight.
The Giants’ status as the league’s best defensive team will again be put to a test as they battle the offensive-minded Air21 Express.
The Tigers, meanwhile, face an even more exciting challenge as they meet the Red Bulls in a duel between the tail-enders and the champions of the recent Fiesta Cup.
The Giants, on a three-game run, and the Tigers, on a two-game slide, hope to catch up with the Beermen atop the heap at 5-2 (win-loss record). The Bulls once again are looking to bounce back from defeat and improve their card to 4-3 while the Express seek a second straight win to hit the .500 percentage mark (4-4) in the standings.
The Purefoods-Air21 match could generate more interest with the two having figured in a fierce semifinals showdown in the recent import-laced tourney.
"We beat them and it will surely be an added motivation for them. But we’re not looking back at that series because it’s done and over with. We want to stay as the No. 1 defensive team in this tourney and that’s our big challenge," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.
"They’ve become more formidable with the entry of Mark Telan. They had six players scoring in double figures in their last game. They will surely be another tough test for our defense," Gregorio added.
In another development, PBA technical chief Perry Martinez recommended that Purefoods trainer Patrick Esmundo be given two separate fines totalling P2,600 for an unsportsmanlike conduct and for entering the court without the referees’ approval.
Red Bull player Celino Cruz, on the other hand, was reprimanded for a hard foul on Eugene Tejada.
Meanwhile, Chris Porter, who suited up for Barangay Ginebra in the recent Fiesta Cup but the NBA veteran, was nabbed in United Sates for drunken driving and illegal possession of marijuana. He was arrested in Alabama. - Nelson Beltran
The Giants’ status as the league’s best defensive team will again be put to a test as they battle the offensive-minded Air21 Express.
The Tigers, meanwhile, face an even more exciting challenge as they meet the Red Bulls in a duel between the tail-enders and the champions of the recent Fiesta Cup.
The Giants, on a three-game run, and the Tigers, on a two-game slide, hope to catch up with the Beermen atop the heap at 5-2 (win-loss record). The Bulls once again are looking to bounce back from defeat and improve their card to 4-3 while the Express seek a second straight win to hit the .500 percentage mark (4-4) in the standings.
The Purefoods-Air21 match could generate more interest with the two having figured in a fierce semifinals showdown in the recent import-laced tourney.
"We beat them and it will surely be an added motivation for them. But we’re not looking back at that series because it’s done and over with. We want to stay as the No. 1 defensive team in this tourney and that’s our big challenge," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.
"They’ve become more formidable with the entry of Mark Telan. They had six players scoring in double figures in their last game. They will surely be another tough test for our defense," Gregorio added.
In another development, PBA technical chief Perry Martinez recommended that Purefoods trainer Patrick Esmundo be given two separate fines totalling P2,600 for an unsportsmanlike conduct and for entering the court without the referees’ approval.
Red Bull player Celino Cruz, on the other hand, was reprimanded for a hard foul on Eugene Tejada.
Meanwhile, Chris Porter, who suited up for Barangay Ginebra in the recent Fiesta Cup but the NBA veteran, was nabbed in United Sates for drunken driving and illegal possession of marijuana. He was arrested in Alabama. - Nelson Beltran
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