Focus on Hotdogs' Fil-Am vs Shell

In four games this season so far, Fil-American deadshot Noy Castillo showed he's found a home in Purefoods, churning out one solid game after another for the Hotdogs.

And now on his fifth game, Castillo is expected to strive even harder as Purefoods finally meets his former team Shell Velocity tonight in the Alaxan PBA All-Filipino Cup at the Philsports Arena.

The Citadel product is likely to wage a personal war against the Zoom Masters in their 5:15 p.m. tiff preceding the 7:30 p.m. matchup between Alaska Milk and Barangay Ginebra.

It's no secret that Castillo was released by the Shell management during the off-season so it could adjust the pay checks of its other key players. Shell officials also gave up star forward Vic Pablo in another deal.

But to this day, Shell remains the only ballclub without a single win in the season, struggling with an inconsistent game.

Castillo and the Hotdogs, meanwhile, are off to an impressive start, subduing the San Miguel Beermen, the Red Bull Energizers and the Barangay Ginebra Kings, and narrowly losing only one game to the Pop Cola 800s.

The Hotdogs gain a share of second place with the idle Beermen if they beat the Zoom Masters tonight.

The Milkmen seek their first successive wins in the season while the Gin Kings hope to check a three-game skid as they take the floor at 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Red Bull and Sta. Lucia fly to Davao City where they collide in a road game at the Rizal Memorial Colleges gym tomorrow.

At the resumption of action in Manila Sunday, it will be Mobiline versus Pop Cola and the much-awaited Tanduay Rhum-San Miguel Beer setto.