Giants, Realtors slug it out today

Purefoods Chunkee and Sta. Lucia Realty could well provide pro basketball an explosive opening game in 2007 as the Giants and the Realtors dispute the last outright slot in the Talk n Text PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals in a playoff match today at the Astrodome.

The Giants and the Realtors are likely to figure in a furious battle in their 7 p.m. tiff with both teams determined to start the new year with a bang.

Result of the game makes a huge difference between the winner and the loser. The victor automatically enters the quarterfinals, joining Red Bull and Talk n Text, while the loser is relegated to the wildcard round with Alaska Milk, Air21 and Coca-Cola.

Both the Giants and Realtors are ready for the crucial game.

"We’re in great condition because we didn’t take a break in practice. We know they’re no strangers in this kind of situation but we’ll take it tomorrow (today)," said Sta. Lucia coach Alfrancis Chua.

"We want to start the new year right so we practiced everyday except Dec. 31," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.

Both teams lost their last two games, giving Talk n Text the opportunity to grab the second outright seat in the quarterfinals. The three squads finished tied with the same 10-8 win-loss cards at the close of the classification round.

The Pals gained outright entry with a superior quotient.

"The nicest thing is that our fate is still in our hands. We’re going all out. We’re ready," said Gregorio.

"After the Ginebra-Talk n Text game, the players felt bad. I told them don’t despair. We can still chart our own course," Gregorio added.

Though losing their last two games, Sta. Lucia and Purefoods could have secured outright quarterfinal entry had Ginebra beat Talk n Text in the final game of the classification round on Christmas Day.

The Realtors are hopeful the league’s Christmas break would turn their fortunes around. They paced the field for quite sometime in the classifications only to falter at the finish, losing five of their last six games.

"That’s what scary about of Sta. Lucia. They’re determined to redeem themselves," said Gregorio.

Gregorio, however, insists his team is setting out for the game in high spirits although ace scorer James Yap seems to be feeling the onset of flu.

The Giants and the Realtors figured in a fierce battle in their two games in the classification round — both won by the latter by no more than four points.