Derby Ace guns for 3rd win; Aces hope to end skid

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Cup champion B-MEG Derby Ace hopes to sustain its fine start in the PBA Fiesta Conference as it faces Coca-Cola while Alaska tries to bounce back from back-to-back setbacks against Air21 at the Araneta Coliseum today.

The Llamados and the Tigers face off at 5 p.m. while the Aces and the Express collide at 7:30 p.m.

In celebration of its 35th anniversary, the league will raffle off one laptop, one gift certificate worth P10,000 courtesy of PC Gilmore and Molten basketballs. The Bingo Bola ng PBA will also have a special draw that offers P35,000 to the lucky winner.

The FEU pep squad, the reigning UAAP cheering squad champion, will provide entertainment at the break.

“Coke is enjoying its finest start in a long while. They have an import who knows how to win in the PBA and that makes them even dangerous,” said Derby Ace coach Ryan Gregorio.

Coca-Cola swept its first three games but was stopped on its tracks by Barangay Ginebra, 98-91, last week.

“James Penny is one of the better imports in the league. He has displayed great basketball skills and leadership qualities making Coke a tournament favorite,” Gregorio said.

The youthful Derby Ace mentor said the continued absence of team captain Kerby Raymundo makes things hard for them, but they’re determined to compete and keep their winning ways, using defense as main weapon.

“Our vaunted defense will be tested. We must not allow them to run and score in transition and their 99 points average must be limited to less than 90 to increase our chances of winning,” said Gregorio.

“It will not be an easy game because Coke has dramatically improved,” he added.

Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol believes they’re also up for a tough test.

“The question is how can we match up with the league’s best team. We understand it’s not easy. We need our A-1 game,” said Perasol.

The Llamados are gunning for a third straight win following back-to-back victories over Sta. Lucia Realtors and the Air21 Express.

The Aces, on the other hand, have lost their first two games, but coach Tim Cone is hopeful they will regain their winning ways soon.

“We saw positive things in our last game and we’ll try to build on that going into tomorrow (today). We’ll have to manage our tough early schedule and pick up wins where we can,” said Cone.

Alaska bowed to Talk n Text, 92-100, last Wednesday then dropped an overtime game versus San Miguel, 89-95, Sunday.

The Express, on the other hand, had a 1-3 card.