Coke to fan sizzling start vs Air21

MANILA, Philippines - Coca-Cola sets out for win No. 3 against Air21 even as San Miguel Beer and Talk n Text, the two champion teams last season, figure in an interesting duel in the PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Coke and Air21 square up at 5 p.m. with the Tigers gunning for a third straight victory following a 97-74 rout of the Barako Energy Coffee Masters last Wednesday and a 108-98 win over the reigning champion Beermen in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental last Saturday.

The Beermen, meanwhile, try to bounce back from that embarrassing defeat as they collide with the Texters in the 7:30 p.m. main game.

Talk n Text is coming off a 99-96 decision over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Friday.

“We need to sustain our energy and our balanced attack specially against a team like Air21. It is also important that we have to run with them,” said Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol whose team is off to its best start in a tourney in the last two seasons behind talented import James Penny.

Coke and Air21 had their last meeting in the recent Philippine Cup wildcard phase where the seventh-seeded Tigers topped the eighth-ranked Express, 118-112, behind Gary David’s auspicious debut with his new team.

David then tossed in 21 points on 8-of-18 field-goal shooting and added four rebounds and three assists a few days after his transfer from Air21 to Coca-Cola.

The former Lyceum Pirate has also dished out a pair of steady games against Barako and San Miguel to earn the Best Player of the Week honors.

Focus, however, will be on the second game pitting the fancied teams, which came up short in their respective bids in the recent Philippine Cup.

Like the Express, the Beermen and the Tropang Texters are going for a second win in three starts.

Gabe Freeman, the Best Import in the 2009 Fiesta Conference, is out to make up for his early exit in their Saturday’s game versus Coke due to cramps.

“Gabe looks okay. We made some adjustments during the break. I’m sure Talk n Text is also making adjustments. The key in our game would be who is able to get good chemistry this early,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.

“Talk n Text hasn’t beaten San Miguel in the reinforced conference since coach Joel Banal’s time. We have to change that,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.

Meanwhile, the PBA has released the complete schedule for the opening round of the Fiesta Conference elimination round.

All-Filipino champion Purefoods (now known as Derby Ace) and runner-up Alaska Milk play Sta. Lucia and Talk n Text, respectively, to start their Fiesta Conference campaign on Wednesday at the Astrodome.