Tigers, Pals clash in Davao opener

A tournament begging to be flagged off finally gets going today with the Coca-Cola Tigers and the Talk n Text Phone Pals opening the PBA Fiesta Cup with a road game in Panabo, Davao del Norte.  

It’s a surefire battle pitting two teams with an old score to settle – the Tigers being the team, which knocked out the Phone Pals in the recent Philippine Cup.

The season-ending conference is tipped to be an exciting and action-packed tourney judging from the intense pre-tournament games that had led to a couple of brawls.

Blockbuster trades could tilt the balance of power with Coca-Cola emerging among the favorites on its acquisitions of Nic Belasco and Mark Macapagal and its built-in advantage of playing with two imports.

The Tigers sent home Bobby Burries without playing a single game as he measured above the 6-foot-1 ceiling. The team recruited as replacement former Buffalo Bull Calvin Cage (six flat) who’ll team up with the 6-9 Jaxon Dixon, Guangdong’s long-time resident import in the Chinese league.

Against Talk n Text, Dixon will be ranged against Aaron McGhee who had his baptism of fire right on a tune-up game against Air21 Wednesday.

A 6-foot-10 behemoth with wayward elbows, McGhee drew the ire of the Express, suffering bruises on the face after being mauled in front of the Air21 bench.

Meanwhile, the PBA fined McGhee and Ranidel de Ocampo P10,000 each for figuring in a brawl while reprimanding Wynne Arboleda, Nino Canaleta, Homer Se and Gary David.

The PBA has arranged a Mass for Romel Adducul on Tuesday starting at 5 p.m. at the Christ the King Church in Greenmeadows.

Asi Taulava, meantime, is likely to continue a war of attrition with his former team.

Taulava has dealt his former teammates two heart-rending losses towards the end of the all-Filipino tourney. The first loss denied Talk n Text an outright seat into the quarterfinals and the second ended the Pals’ bid for further contention.

The poor showing of the Pals in the Fiesta Cup prompted the team management not to extend coach Derrick Pumaren’s contract, paving the way for the entry of coach Chot Reyes.

Reyes says they have a job cut out for them against the Tigers.

“Definitely, we’ve got stronger. But it remains to be seen what we can do. It’s something we have to work for, something to sweat for,” said Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis.

“Definitely, the talent we need is there. The challenge is how to use it. The great opportunity is there and I’m excited on what will unfold,” Favis added.

With the entry of Taulava halfway through the all-Filipino elims, the Tigers rallied from the bottom to make the quarterfinals and eventually finish sixth.

Welcoat, also playing with two imports under new head coach in Caloy Garcia, takes on Air21 in the tourney’s first regular twinbill tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum. Red Bull and Barangay Ginebra are featured in the 6:50 p.m. main game.