On a roll

Streaking appears to be the name of the game in the PBA these days and it doesn’t mean players are taking off their jerseys.

San Miguel Beer, leading the race in the eliminations with a 9-1 record, is the league’s hottest team. Coach Siot Tanquingcen’s squad has won eight in a row. Its only loss was an aberration, a 108-98 setback to Coca-Cola in Gingoog City last March 27. The Beermen shot themselves in the foot, collecting 27 turnovers which delivered 31 points for Coca-Cola and giving up 38 free throws which produced 23 points for the Tigers.

San Miguel hasn’t looked back since bowing to Coca-Cola and gets the chance to pay back the Tigers when they meet again on June 16 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Talk ‘N’ Text has the second longest winning streak with seven in a row. The Tropang Texters are unbeaten in two games since bringing in Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes and Charles Waters from Sta. Lucia Realty. Seven players scored in twin digits in those two outings, underscoring the Texters’ awesome depth.

The Texters have lost only twice so far this conference – to Barangay Ginebra, 97-90, last March 21 and to San Miguel, 112-106, last March 31. They face Ginebra in a rematch in Batangas City on June 5 and San Miguel once more in Victorias City on June 12.

On mild streaks are Ginebra and Alaska , both with two consecutive wins. They’re brandishing identical 6-4 records, tying for third place with B-Meg Derby Ace. The Kings are 3-2 since acquiring Willie Miller from Alaska while the Aces are 4-2 since welcoming Cyrus Baguio to the fold.

B-Meg had won three straight before succumbing to Talk ‘N’ Text, 114-89, last Wednesday. The defeat to the Texters was the Llamados’ worst yet. The most any team had scored against B-Meg was 82 points so losing to Talk ‘N’ Text by 25 was a shocker. B-Meg had limited its victims to an average of only 73 points in the three wins before engaging Talk ‘N’ Text.

Sliding precipitously down the hill are Air21 and Coca-Cola. The Express has lost eight in a row and its 1-9 record is the league’s worst. Coach Yeng Guiao is still looking for an import to bring sanity back to Air21’s scheme of things. He started the conference with Keena Young then took in Jason Forte and is now leaning on Reggie Larry to get the job done. Larry had an auspicious debut, firing 38 points in a 120-115 loss to Talk ‘N’ Text last May 1. But since that explosion, his output has dropped consistently in a disturbing trend – 30 against Ginebra, 20 against Rain Or Shine and 16 against B-Meg.

* * * *

Air21 has a chance to rebound in a big way against San Miguel at the Ynares Center tonight. Wynne Arboleda is likely to suit up in his first game since he was reinstated from the PBA’s suspended list. While the Fiesta Conference looks like a lost cause for Air21, there is hope for the future. Air21 governor Lito Alvarez said the other day the Express holds four first round picks in the August draft and it’s likely the team might wind up choosing the top three. Air21 got the draft picks of Barako Energy Coffee, Coca-Cola and Talk ‘N’ Text in previous trades. And the Express has its own slot to complete the collection.

Coca-Cola, No. 8 in the standings with a 4-7 mark, has dropped six straight, including five blowouts. The only loss in the skid that could’ve gone either way was the 104-103 heartbreaker to Alaska last May 7. It’s been a nightmarish slide for coach Bo Perasol’s troops. The Tigers had a fiery start, racing to a 3-0 record, but has since floundered.

Another team on the decline is Barako Energy Coffee, which has lost two in a row and eight of its last nine. Barako is in ninth spot with a 2-8 slate. The team began the conference with a 97-93 win over Sta. Lucia Realty then lost six successive games before surprising Alaska, 106-98, last May 2.

On the subject of streaks, only three players are scoring in double figures in every game this conference – Talk ‘N’ Text’s Ranidel de Ocampo, Coca-Cola’s Gary David and B-Meg’s James Yap.

De Ocampo nearly lost his spot in the elite cast and barely kept his streak alive by scoring 11 points against B-Meg last Wednesday. His single-game high this conference was 28 points against San Miguel. David’s high was 31 against Alaska and low was 10 against Rain Or Shine. Yap came close to ending his streak twice, scoring 10 against Barako and Ginebra. His high game was 28 against Talk ‘N’ Text last Wednesday – he hit 17 in the second period but was scoreless in the last quarter.

** * *

Don’t forget to join our NBA contest for the chance to win exclusive NBA merchandise – a dri-fit, long-sleeved NBA All-Star Dallas 2010 shirt and a blue NBA All-Star Dallas 2010 on.file planner/organizer. We’re giving away three shirts and 30 planners. Three lucky winners will take home a shirt and a planner each while 27 other winners will get a planner apiece. Neither the shirt nor the planner is available in stores locally. They were flown in direct from the NBA office.

To join the contest, simply answer three questions correctly – First, who will win the NBA title this season? Second, who will be the NBA Finals MVP? And third, who will be the losing finalist?

All entries must be in on or before May 31, Monday. Write your answers on a slip of paper. Include your name, address, age, occupation (if student, what year, course, school), telephone number and in 100 words or less, why you think this season’s playoffs are amazing. Additionally, you must include an actual clipping (no Xerox copies, please) of a Philippine Star front page masthead on a one-clipping-one-entry basis. The dates of the issues where the masthead appears must be between the contest launch date of May 5, 2010, and the cut-off date of May 31, 2010.

Send in as many entries as you can. The more entries, the more chances of winning. There will be no multiple winners. Address your entries to The Philippine Star, NBA Playoffs Contest, Sports Section, R. Oca Jr. and Railroad Streets, Port Area, Manila. For questions, call Tel. 527-6007.