Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5:15 p.m. – Talk n Text vs Air21
7:30 p.m. – Globalport vs Ginebra
MANILA, Philippines - Back-to-back Philippine Cup champion Talk n Text, with top Fil-Am center/forward Kelly Williams back in harness, tries to bounce back from a losing debut as it tangles with Air21 and import Michael Dunigan in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Short-handed minus big men Williams and Ali Peek, the Tropang Texters bowed to the Meralco Bolts last Saturday. Peek was hurt while Williams was stranded by thick snow in his brief US vacation then.
But Williams’ return is likely to perk up the Tropang Texters as they square off with the Express at 5:15 p.m.
“We just have to prepare for Talk n Text’s expected strong comeback. We know Talk n Text is a better team than the one that showed up last game,†said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren.
The Express are coming off an inspiring victory over the Barangay Ginebra Kings Sunday. They also put up a solid stand against the Texters in their quarterfinals matchup in the last all-Filipino tourney.
“At least, pinakaba namin sila,†said Pumaren then.
The Texters withstood the Express and surged past the Alaska Milk Aces in the semifinals then the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the finals in posting the first back-to-back Philippine Cup championships in three decades.
The Express try one more time to buck the odds, hoping to draw the best from Dunigan.
A win by Air21 will force a three-way logjam on top among the Express, the Barako Bull Energy Cola and the Alaska Milk Aces.
Barangay Ginebra is also out to rebound from its first-game setback as it plays the vastly improved Globalport side in the other game at 7:30 p.m.
Japeth Aguilar took much of attention in his first two games with Globalport. And it could be much more against Ginebra, supposedly his final destination from a circuitous transfer from Talk n Text.
Instead of landing at Ginebra, Aguilar ended up at the Globalport squad that has suddenly become a team to watch with other new prized recruits in Sol Mercado and Kelly Nabong.
The Batang Pier are likely to give the Kings a tough test especially with Ginebra hit by ailment or injuries to Kerby Raymundo, Rudy Hatfield and Billy Mamaril.