Philippine Sports News and Updates

Barangay Ginebra and Talk ‘N Text try to achieve separate goals when action in the KFC-PBA Fiesta Cup resumes Friday at The Astrodome.

The Gin Kings shoot for their second straight win when they face the Sta. Lucia Realtors, a team Ginebra mentor Jong Uichico said they have difficulty matching up, in the main game of this weekend’s doubleheader while the Tropang Texters of coach Chot Reyes try to avoid a 0-2 hole when they go up against the debuting Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 5 p.m. curtain raiser.

Plagued by injuries to key players in the last Philippine Cup, the Kings looked sharp when they scored a 97-90 triumph over the Tropang Texters in their opening game with a healthy Mark Caguioa and Jay-Jay Helterbrand playing for a combined 30 points and 53 minutes.

"We’re all in the adjustment stage," Uichico said. "And if you remember, we were healthy in the first two games last conference, but then injuries started to come in. The aim is to get healthy."

A victory by Ginebra in the 7:30 p.m. match would give the team a 2-0 card and the solo lead.

But Uichico talks cautiously about the Kings’ chances, knowing fully well the Realtors are raring to bounce back from a 97-93 upset at the hands of the Barako Energy Coffee Masters, aside from the fact that they usually have a hard time sizing up coach Boyet Fernandez’s team.

"We always have a tough time with Sta. Lucia," said Uichico. “We have to figure out why and the solution."

In the Philippine Cup this season, Ginebra got swept by Sta. Lucia in the eliminations, including a lopsided 93-72 defeat in the first round. Their second meeting ended in a 93-88 loss.

An interesting sidelight in the game is the match up between imports Awvee Storey and Anthony Johnson. Storey, who was once close to troubled Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arena, had 33 points and 16 rebounds in his debut here, while Johnson exploded for 41 points in that loss to the Energy Coffee Masters last Sunday.

Like the Realtors, the Tropang Texters are aiming to get their first win and avoid going into a 0-2 mark this early, eyeing to spoil Jai Lewis’ comeback stint with the Elasto Painters.

"First of all, we never plan on how not to lose," said Reyes. “We plan to win tomorrow (Friday) by minimizing our turnovers and playing better defense than in our first game."

• GMANews.TV
• Philippine Sports Central