Alaska, SLR relive grudge match; SMB battles TNT

Elimination-round top teams Alaska Milk and Talk n Text hope to come out strong despite long layoff as they take on quarterfinal survivors Sta. Lucia Realty and San Miguel Beer, respectively, at the start of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup Final Four today at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces and the Tropang Texters, who gained outright seedings in the semis after topping the elims, may have fresher legs but the Realtors and the Beermen, who went through the grueling quarterfinal phase, could well brandish a more competitive form at least in the opener of the best-of-seven series.

Sta. Lucia and Alaska clash in a rematch of their memorable showdown in the same stage last year while Talk n Text and San Miguel are pitted in a duel of teams with powerhouse casts.

The Realtors went through the full route of a best-of-seven showdown to outclass the Aces in their semifinal encounter last year then went all the way to win the crown.

The Aces are looking to get back at the Realtors with a lineup beefed up by 2007 top draft pick Joe Devance and former NCAA MVP winner Kelvin dela Peña.

“We’ve been off for a long time so the guys are really eager to play. We’ve prepared hard so we’ll find out how well that preparation translates on the court,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

“Alaska is a strong team. It could well be defense that will decide Game One and probably the series. It will be an exciting series and the team is really looking forward to it,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

The two teams split their matches in the elims with Alaska drawing first blood with a 95-89 win then Sta. Lucia getting back with a 92-89 victory.

Relegated to the quarterfinals, the Realtors swept the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their best-of-three series to set up a grudge match with the Aces. The Realtors have won their last three games and the last three in the elimination round.

The Beermen broke into the Final Four coming all the way from the wildcard round and they set out against the Tropang Texters riding the momentum of a 4-1 win-loss performance in the playoff phase.

Dondon Hontiveros sizzled with an average of 27.7 points per game in their quarterfinal contest with Barangay Ginebra. Against Talk n Text, the 6-foot-2 Cebuano gunner is expected to engage in a shootout with league scoring leader Mac Mac Cardona.

Subplots abound in the series, including Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes meeting the team he steered to a runner-up finish in the same tournament two years ago, and Beerman Jay Washington going up against former teammates after the Texters traded the 6-foot-7 center to their rival franchise prior to the start of the season.

The two teams also split their two games in the elims.

And while the Beermen gutted it out in the wildcard and the quarterfinals, the Tropang Texters stayed in shape by playing the Singapore Slingers in a series of scrimmages.

Meanwhile, Cardona remained in the lead in the Best Player of the Conference derby after the quarterfinals with an average of 33.4 statistical points, followed by Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams (32.5), Coca-Cola’s Asi Taulava (32.4), Alaska’s Willie Miller (32.0) and TnT’s Ranidel de Ocampo (31.4).

Hontiveros was the biggest gainer, leaping to 10th place from 22nd after the quarters.

In the Rookie of the Year race, Gabe Norwood (26) still paced the pack with Rain or Shine teammate Sol Mercado (22.8) sliding from second to fifth place.