TnT plays Shell in Indonesia

Barangay Ginebra begins its chase for the third and final jewel to a possible grand slam championship at the Araneta Coliseum while Talk n Text and Shell automatically make history as they mix it up in faraway Jakarta, Indonesia today.

The last team with a chance to sweep three titles in one PBA season, the Kings start their quest for ultimate glory in the league as they play the Red Bull Barako Thunder in the mainer of the second playdate of the 2005 Fiesta Conference at the Big Dome.

Purefoods and FedEx clash in the other game in the cavernous Quezon City playing venue, pitting Antonio Smith and Anthony Miller curiously in a duel of two former Michigan State mainstays.

Almost at the same time as Ginebra and Red Bull mix it up here, Talk n Text and Shell slug it out at the Britama Sports Mall in Jakarta, marking the first time ever the league holds an official game abroad.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala looks forward to a warm reception particularly from a huge crowd of Filipino contract workers who have already cornered every available ticket for the match.

"Just about every basketball fan in the city is excited about the coming weekend match," said Agus Mauro, the Indonesian Basketball League commissioner and event organizer.

However, the Big Dome twinbill is also expected to generate great interest with Ginebra back in action after reigning supreme and celebrating a great championship with its huge throngs in the All-Filipino Cup only last February.

Former Purefoods import Edner Elisma lends his services to Ginebra, now on the brink of joining Crispa, San Miguel Beer and Alaska Milk in the league’s elite list of grand slam winners following their victories in the first two tournaments of the season.

This is the last season that features three tournaments since the league starts playing two longer tourneys next season.

The Ginebra organization took pains in finding an import, and head coach Siot Tanquingcen and his staff are hopeful Elisma, a former Georgia Tech standout and Seattle Supersonics NBA draftee, becomes a vital link in their search for the final jewel to a possible Triple Crown accomplishment.

Purefoods also found an import practically at the last minute in Smith whom the Hotdogs will parade against FedEx and Miller.

Both Smith and Miller played college ball at Michigan State. Smith, however, only joined the squad in 1995, a year after Miller’s senior year in the school.

The Purefoods reinforcement, who played in Italy the last two years, had one practice session with the Hotdogs yesterday after arriving Friday night.

"Parang Rossel Ellis na workhorse. Trabaho lang nang trabaho," said coach Ryan Gregorio of his import, likening him to the former Coca-Cola regular import.

Smith has twice nearly made it to the NBA, having been the final cut at Detroit and in New York.

Meanwhile, the Alaska Aces lost quite a huge sum on the heist on its dugout during its game versus San Miguel Beer Friday at the Philsports Arena.

Hardest hit was Don Allado who lost an I-Pod, a cellular phone and his wallet with a number of cards and an unspecified amount of cash.

Also victimized were import Leon Derricks (wallet), Jeffrey Cariaso (wallet) and Eugene Tejada (Ericsson cell phone).