With Rich out, Bulls see tough duel vs Tigers

Red Bull starts life today minus Rich Alvarez as it clashes with Coca-Cola in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Already struggling even with Alvarez on the team, the Bulls could find the going tougher with the departure of the 2004 Rookie of the Year awardee for Purefoods.

“We hope that the psychological effect of Rich’s exit wears off right away. We’re playing a big team coming off a win. We’ll surely face serious match-up problems,” said Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao, expecting a tough time against Coca-Cola in their 4 p.m. encounter.

“We will miss Rich a lot because of his high energy plays. He’s our best defensive stopper, one of our best offensive rebounders and a threat on both ends of the court,” said Guiao of the versatile forward the team management dealt to Purefoods in exchange for a future draft pick.

Alvarez, 28, was the latest key player Red Bull let go after Kerby Raymundo, Willie Miller, Lordy Tugade, Rico Villanueva, Larry Fonacier, Junthy Valenzuela and Mick Pennisi.

The team management gave away Alvarez just when the Bulls seemed to have hit their strides, winning their last three games against the Ginebra Kings, the San Miguel Beermen and the Talk n Text Tropang Texters.

With Alvarez gone, Guiao now only has Carlo Sharma, Mike Hrabak, Leo Najorda, Gabby Espinas and Larry Rodriguez to rotate at the frontcourt.

Meanwhile, erstwhile leaders Alaska Milk and Barangay Ginebra slug it out in the other game with both looking to check an alarming skid.

The Aces, now at second, have lost their last two games after a 4-0 start while the Kings have moved all the way down to ninth after three straight defeats.