PBA: Big men take charge

The PBA All-Filipino Cup semifinals is fast turning out to be a battle of big men , and if Tanduay's and Alaska's frontliners continue to impose their will on their Purefoods and San Miguel counterparts tonight, the Rhum Masters and the Milkmen may well step closer to arranging what could become a mayhem of a title showdown in May.

Behind the sterling games of their big men, Tanduay and Alaska drew first blood in their respective best-of-five semis duel with Purefoods and San Miguel at the Philsports Arena Wednesday.

Eric Menk turned himself to a one-man wrecking crew with Sonny Alvarado rooted on the bench as the Rhum Masters repulsed the Hotdogs, 91-79, while Poch Juinio, Bong Hawkins and James Wallkvist put up a solid stand against the fearsome San Miguel duo of Dan Seigle and Danny Ildefonso as the Milkmen subdued the Beermen, 77-70.

Thus, it won't be surprising if Purefoods' battlecry is to stop Menk and San Miguel's to minimize the effectivity of Alaska's frontline rotation in their bid to bounce back from Game One defeat.

This time, Alaska and San Miguel clash in the 5:15 p.m. curtain-raiser before Tanduay and Purefoods collide in the 7:30 p.m. mainer still at the Philsports Arena.

Alvarado's case with the Bureau of Immigration remains in the balance but Tanduay coach Alfrancis Chua is confident his team will continue to play with great intensity in a determined bid to gain a second straight stint in the All-Filipino finals.