TnT, Ginebra seek way out of tight race

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra try to keep their spots at joint fourth as they tangle with seventh placers San Mig Coffee and Air21, respectively, entering the homestretch of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Kings and the Express face off at 5:15 p.m. then the Tropang Texters and the Mixers square off at 7:30 p.m. with all four teams going all-out to boost their bid for the Top Six.

Talk n Text and Ginebra, however, will be setting minus key players. The Texters are without Jared Dillinger and Kelly Williams while the Kings will continue to miss the services of Mark Caguioa.

“JD (Dillinger) will still be out because of a foot injury and Kelly will take an indefinite medical leave because of health concerns,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.

Black, however, hoped his charges would have enough in reserves after a long nine-day rest.

“We should be well rested because of the break, and so I’m expecting better defensive effort on our part,” said Black whose wards, in their last outing, suffered a ghastly 85-116 rout at the hands of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

“Mark (Caguioa) is very doubtful but the guys know our situation and they know what to do. Not just a single player can make up for what Mark is giving us. We really need a team effort,” said Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua.

“We’re both on romp and we both have a good import. It’s going to be a good game,” Chua added.

“We must do a better job with our execution offensively and defensively,” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren, on the other hand.

All four teams are out to improve their records in the middle of the pack.

At 5-6, the Mixers and the Express are now virtually facing must-win situation, in danger of missing the Top Six.

“We’re at that point where it is put up or shut up. We can’t let this conference slip any farther away from us. For us, the talking ends. We gotta start doing,” said San Mig coach Tim Cone.

Losses by San Mig Coffee and Air21 to Barako Bull and Rain or Shine, respectively, Sunday sent the Mixers and the Express down to seventh and eighth, just a game in front of the ninth-running Energy Cola (4-7).

If they don’t improve and eventually finish seventh and eighth, San Mig Coffee and Air21 face teams in the quarterfinal round with a twice-to-beat advantage.

The Mixers have the Texters, the Express and the Meralco Bolts as last three assignments. Air21, meanwhile, is to face Ginebra, San Mig Coffee and Petron Blaze in its last three outings.