Red Bull shoots for lead vs Sta. Lucia

Red Bull takes on the resurgent Sta. Lucia side as it seeks to regain a piece of the lead with the Air21 Express with six playdates left in the Smart PBA Fiesta Conference double-round elimination phase at the Araneta Coliseum tonight.

Alaska Milk and Barangay Ginebra clash in the day’s other game, each looking to step up its chase of the frontrunners entering the crucial stage of the elims.

“Our objective is a strong finish in the elimination round to give ourselves a chance at an outright semis slot. This game will determine our resolve to achieve our goal,” said Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao.

“I’m sure Sta. Lucia is aching to get even with us because we beat them in our first meeting. Their new import is getting better every game, and that’s bad news for us,” Guiao added.

“It’s another do-or-die game for us if we want to have a shot at an automatic quarterfinals slot. I’m wary of Red Bull but if we only play the way we played the last time out, we have a good chance of winning,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

The Realtors could really pose a big challenge as their game has seemingly improved with new import Benson Lee. The team has just snapped a four-game skid with a 95-75 rout of Alaska Milk Wednesday.

Alaska hopes to regain its bearing on a day team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr. is honored by the league for his recent achievements.

Uytengsu was recently named the Philippines’ Ernst & Young 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year and “Masters Entrepreneur” for exemplifying sound management practices in the areas of finance, shareholder value, corporate governance, marketing and human resources. The Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards was held in Monte Carlo, Monaco last May 31.

“Mr Uytengsu’s latest achievement did not only bring honor to the PBA but to the entire nation as well,” said PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios.

Barrios and PBA board chairman Tony Chua will award a plaque of recognition to Uytengsu before the Alaska-Ginebra match.

The Kings, however, are likely to work hard to enhance their own bid.

Tied at seventh with identical 7-8 win-loss cards, Ginebra and Sta. Lucia are out to sweep their last three games to get a shot at least at an outright quarterfinals entry. Alaska is at fifth place a game ahead at 8-7.

Eight teams remain in the hunt for the Magic Five with Air21 leading the pack at 10-6 closely followed by Red Bull at 9-6 then Coca-Cola and Magnolia at 9-7.