Petron takes on Alaska

CEBU, Philippines - The Petron Blaze Boosters hope to end a three-game losing jinx as they take on the Alaska Aces in the first ever bearing PBA out-of-town match in Lapu-Lapu City scheduled at 6:00 tonight at the multi-million Hoops Dome.

Game today

Since jumping off to an impressive 3-0 start, the Blaze Boosters found themselves in an unusual slump, dropping their next three games to plummet into seventh in the overall standings.

"Coming from three straight losses, kailangan talaga naming makabawi para ma-maintain ang position namin sa standings," said Petron head coach Ato Agustin in a press conference yesterday at Royal Concourse restaurant.

Agustin felt his players were just too complacent since their sudden slide came right after they had a team building.

"Para ngang nag-relax. We started the season with a 3-0 record tapos nag team building kami pero after nun, sunod-sunod na ang talo namin," he said,

But Agustin admitted they've learned their lessons well and hopefully they could make the necessary adjusments in their game against Alaska, who has just snapped out of their own five-game hoodoo.

"We have to correct our mistakes and put a lot of effort especially on defense. Some of players are injured so kailangan talaga mag step-up lahat," said Agustin.

For one, Cebuano shotshot Dondon Hontiveros will surely come in streetclothes as he is suffering from an ACL (acute cruciate ligament) injury. Big men Jay Washington, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Siverino Baclao are also on sickbacy.

 In their bid to get back to the winning track, Agustin will count the most from Arwind Santos, Danny Ildefonso, Alex Cabagnot, Carlo Sharma, Rey Guevarra, Joseph Yeo, Chris Lutz and Cebuano guard Axel Doruelo.

Alaska, on the other hand, will bank on Sonny Thoss, Marnel Baracael, LA Tenorio, Jay-R Reyes, Cyrus Baguio, Brandon Cablay and Tony de la Cruz among others.

Tickets for the Petron-Alaska joust are pegged at P800 for ringside, P500 for lower box, P300 for upperbox and P100 for general admission. (FREEMAN)