Resurgent Llamados, Aces clash for solo 4th

MANILA, Philippines - B-Meg Derby Ace and Alaska Milk mix it up today in a duel of surging teams for solo fourth even as Powerade and Meralco collide in a clash of struggling squads in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Llamados and Aces, currently tied at No. 4 with 5-5 (win-loss) records, face off in the 7:30 p.m. main game with the former hoping to sustain their big surge from the tailend of the 10-team field to the middle of the pack.

B-Meg is on a four-game winning streak, capped by its 94-86 victory over Rain or Shine last Friday at the Astrodome.

“We hope to sustain the momentum against Alaska, which we all know is a tough team and we have to be ready,” said B-Meg mentor Jorge Gallent.

Alaska coach Tim Cone, whose wards needed to play tough defense to thwart Barako Bull’s late surge in an 87-76 triumph Sunday, said it’s going to be a tough week for them since they’re going to play an unpredictable Rain or Shine on Sunday.

“It’s going to be a tough week so we will need to close out games better,” said Cone.

The Bolts and the Tigers, who tote 4-5 and 3-7 records, respectively, tangle in the other game at 5 p.m.

But focus will be on the Alaska-B-Meg showdown with the winner seizing solo fourth and moving closer to Brgy. Ginebra and Talk n Text, the second and third-running teams with 7-3 and 6-3 cards, respectively.

Powerhouse San Miguel Beer leads the league with a 9-2 slate, nipping Ginebra, 79-78, in last Sunday’s thriller, and moving a game closer from booking the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round.