Express, Dragons collide; Aces try to keep run

Air21 takes on Welcoat and returning import Alex Compton today at the Araneta Coliseum, looking for a win that will assure the team of at least a playoff for an outright quarterfinals berth in the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference.

Alaska Milk and Sta. Lucia clash in the day’s other matchup with the Aces out to stretch their amazing streak to seven and the Realtors hoping to end their four-game skid.

“Every person in the team understands the significance of the game. More than anything else, if we want to aim high, we have to be consistent with what we do best,” said Air21 coach Bo Perasol, determined to sustain their own run heading to the closing stages of the double-round elims.

Air21 has caught up with Red Bull and Coca-Cola atop the heap with 9-6 win-loss records with the Express, Barakos and Tigers out  to come up with a strong finishing kick for a shot at an outright entry into the semifinals.

Welcoat, with a poor 4-11 record, is aiming to salvage the last slot in the wildcard round. In a desperate move, the team management has reactivated Compton to take over from Corey Santee as the team’s other import aside from Marquis Gainous.

Compton, a Cornell U product who had starred in the MBA and the PBL, met with PBA technical officer Ramil Cruz yesterday to discuss some rules in preparation for his comeback.

Almost three games behind the ninth running Sta. Lucia Realtors, the Dragons need to sweep their last three games to stay in the hunt. Welcoat didn’t make it past the elims in its first three conferences in the league.

The bad news for the Dragons is that the Realtors are also going all out to stop their own skid.

“We’re in a must-win situation. Alaska is the hottest team at the moment. They’re playing as a team. We need to execute and be patient if we want to beat Alaska,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

Sta. Lucia whipped Alaska, 93-86, in their previous tiff but the Aces regained their winning form, shooting to the upper half of the chart with six straight victories.

“We’re developing a nice, healthy rivalry with them (the Realtors). They are a team looking for a spark, and it’s our job not to give them one,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

The Aces will gain a piece of the lead with the Bulls and the Tigers if they beat the Realtors and the Express lose to the Dragons.