Air21 faces tougher grind minus Renren

Life in the league could even be tougher for the struggling Air21 as it begins campaign without top gun Renren Ritualo, facing red-hot Purefoods in the Gran Matador Brandy PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Minus their top gun in Ritualo whom the team shipped out to Talk n Text, the Express face an even tougher challenge as they try to make it to the top five for an outright seat in the quarterfinals.

Air21 has lost four of its last five games and is running eighth in the field with a 4-8 win-loss card.

The big question is who will assume the role left by Ritualo with Leo Avenido who was taken in by Air21 as part of its trade deal with Talk n Text not as prolific pointmaker as the former Archer.

The Air21-Talk n Text deal was completed yesterday. Still subject to condition is Talk n Text’s transaction with Alaska involving Willie Miller, John Ferriols, Don Allado and an Alaska future draft pick. The Alaska-TnT deal will be completed once the players involved are found physically fit.

Air21 coach Bo Perasol has admitted Ritualo is a big loss but he remains confident somebody from his team will step up and emerge as their new go-to-guy.

Perasol said Niño Canaleta and Ronald Tubid could become their new main men offensively.

But if the Express were to gain outright quarters seat, they have to start winning now. And it looks like a tall order and they’re even setting out the underdogs against the Giants who dealt them a 94-105 defeat in their first meeting last April 5.

Tied with the San Miguel Beermen in the lead with identical 9-3 win-loss cards, the Giants are two games away from an automatic slot in the semifinals.

San Miguel goes up against Sta. Lucia in the day’s other game at 7:35 p.m., and like the Giants, the Beermen are seeking to move closer to an outright semis entry.

The Beermen were stopped on their tracks by the Giants Friday, absorbing a 72-82 loss in their game at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. It was San Miguel’s first defeat in its last seven games.