Mixers, Texters seek quarters

MANILA, Philippines - San Mig Coffee and Talk n Text try to formalize entry into the quarterfinals and at the same time enhance their respective bids for the twice-to-beat bonus as they face struggling teams Alaska Milk and Globalport, respectively, tonight in the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Mixers, with new acquisitions Yousef Taha and Ronnie Matias, tangle with the Aces at 8 p.m. after the Tropang Texters and comebacking import Paul Harris tackle the Batang Pier at 5:45 p.m.

Putting accent on  future buildup, San Mig Coffee gave up experience (Yancy de Ocampo) for youth (Taha). In Matias, the Mixers gained more options on their small forward position.

The Tropang Texters, meanwhile, are convinced they will get better as Harris takes over from Rodney Carney.

“I think he will help especially in the area of defense and rebounding. Our offense has been running smoothly so I expect Paul will fit right in,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.

San Mig Coffee and Talk n Text are both favored to nail a fifth win in six games even as Alaska (2-4) and Globalport (1-4) are both determined to improve their records in the lower half of the chart.

“Major concerns versus Globalport are slowing down the inside play of (Dior) Lowhorn, and guarding the outside sniping of Alex (Cabagnot), Terrence (Romeo), Jay (Washington) and Ronjay (Buenafe),” said Black of the Batang Pier who just squandered huge margins in dropping their last two games against San Mig Coffee and San Miguel Beer.

The Batang Pier hope they develop a fighting character with the addition of De Ocampo, Buenafe and Val Acuna.

For the Aces, it’s a question of how they respond from their 51-point demolition of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Wednesday night.

Alaska coach Alex Compton tried not to make it hard for his team.

“We just go back to work, watch the film, try to break the stuff down, and get ready for that really ‘weak’ team on Friday that struggled the last three conferences,” Compton said, of course, sarcastically.

Thinking about their winning record against the Mixers until their quarterfinals showdown in the last Commissioner’s Cup could probably help prop up the Aces.

Alaska had had a clean record against San Mig Coffee in the season and won Game One of their Commissioner’s Cup best-of-three quarterfinals showdown only to stumble in the next two games.

The Mixers went all the way to rule the tourney, and have continued to churn out solid performances to share the lead in the Governors Cup with Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra at 4-1.

The Aces are at 2-4, having gone 1-3 with their new coach.

Compton and his team definitely have to gather themselves and forget what happened the last time out if they’re to compete with the Mixers.