Four teams eye quarters in do or die

MANILA, Philippines - Two more teams will take the exit as the double-knockout in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference wildcard phase is played tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.

It’s Sta. Lucia versus Coca-Cola at 5 p.m. then Talk n Text against Purefoods at 7:30 p.m with the winners advancing to the quarterfinals with Rain or Shine and Burger King while the losers fall by the wayside with Alaska Milk and Barako Bull.

The Realtors and the Tigers dispute the right to challenge the Whoppers in the quarters while the Tropang Texters and the Giants slug it out for a slot in the next round versus the Elasto Painters.

All four knockout protagonists express guarded optimism they can move for further contention in the season-ending tourney.

The Realtors, the 2007-08 All-Filipino champions, aren’t losing hope even as they continue to play minus ailing main man Kelly Williams.

“We face an uphill battle ranged against a team which played like a true title contender in their last two games,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez. “Our team is still adjusting playing minus Kelly. We have to rely on defense if we’re to win tomorrow (today).”

Coca-Cola coach Kenneth Duremdes doesn’t think they have an advantage with Sta. Lucia playing without Williams.

“We have to take care of our game. We have to limit our turnovers and bad shots. Sta. Lucia will capitalize and run,” said Duremdes.

Bracing for war are Talk n Text and Purefoods. The winner in their match-up is fancied to win over Rain or Shine in the quarters to advance to the Final Four against Barangay Ginebra.

“We’re cautiously optimistic. Jimmy (Alapag) has recovered from injury and we’ve been practicing well. But anything can happen in a KO game, aside from the fact that we haven’t beaten Purefoods yet this year,” said TnT coach Chot Reyes.

Reyes and his chargers, the reigning All-Filipino titlists, have to get past Purefoods to stay in the running for a possible double-championship in the 2008-09 campaign.

The Giants, however, are also determined to keep on going, aching to get a shot at a first title in three years.

It would be remembered Kerby Raymundo thought of backing out of the RP team, saying he wants to concentrate on a bid to bring Purefoods back to the finals.