Giants start defense vs Pals

Purefoods has never won back-to-back championships in franchise history, and it would be Chunkee Giants’ mission as they open their campaign in the 2006-07 Talk n Text-PBA Philippine Cup versus the TnT Phone Pals at the Araneta Coliseum today.

The Giants are not looking for two successive championships but a title-repeat in the All-Filipino tourney which has never been done by any team since Great Taste successfully defended the prestigious crown in 1985.

And the Giants hope they can achieve the feat with a team toughened by the return of forward Jondan Salvador from injury and acquisition of Letran ace guard Boyet Bautista.

The Giants had poor showings in the recent pre-season series but coach Ryan Gregorio said they’re now ready to go to battle.

Purefoods opens its campaign against Talk n Text which Gregorio considers among four teams that could be the biggest stumbling blocks in their title-retention bid. Gregorio points to Barangay Ginebra, Alaska Milk and San Miguel Beer as the other top contenders in the tourney.

Talk n Text could really pose a big threat as the team’s old mainstays and new recruits have somehow jelled in the pre-season.

Coach Derrick Pumaren put his team under extensive training abroad and even fielded the Phone Pals in invitational tourneys in Las Vegas and in Korea during the off-season.

Talk n Text has a formidable lineup including Asi Taulava, Jay Washington, Don Allado, Harvey Carey, Vic Pablo, Jimmy Alapag, Renren Ritualo and Macmac Cardona. They’re a bunch of players aching for redemption after a woeful eighth-place finish in the last All-Filipino.

Purefoods and Talk n Text clash at 7:35 p.m. after the 4:40 p.m. curtain-raiser between Alaska Milk and Coca-Cola.

Alaska topped the pre-season series but was clobbered by Red Bull, 93-99, in an overseas game in Guam Thursday.