Teams all pumped up for Easter bash

MANILA, Philippines - Tournament leaders San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine meet in an interesting showdown in the resumption of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference elimination round at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Both teams are raring to return to action in the 6:30 p.m. setto, believing they’ve done their assignments during the two-week league break.

Alaska Milk and Coca-Cola also ooze with excitement as they clash in the day’s other game at 4 p.m.

San Miguel, despite injuries to key players, dominated the early stage of the season-ending tourney, winning all its first six games by an average margin of 10.5 points.

SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen believes they’ve done the job during the Lenten break to keep the team in highly competitive form. The Beermen last played on March 25 where they whipped the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 95-80.

Rain or Shine breathes down SMB’s neck at 5-2. The Elasto Painters are confident they can compete well with any team in the league today while reinforced by super import Jai Lewis.

Incidentally, Lewis is the pacesetter in the stats race in the Best Import category with 55.0 statistical points a game.

Sta. Lucia’s Anthony Johnson is next with 53.9 SPs per outing, followed by Talk n Text’s Tiras Wade (53.2), Ginebra’s Rod Nealy (47.4), Alaska’s Rosell Ellis (45.3), SMB’s Gabe Freeman (43.0), Barako Bull’s Scooter McFadgon (42.6), Coke’s James Penny (40), Purefoods’ Jahmar Thorpe (34) and BK’s Shawn Daniels (33.6).

Lewis himself is excited to go back to work after being rewarded a week-long leave after their last game against Sta. Lucia on March 27.

“The players worked hard and injuries to some of our players were healed. We’re in high spirits returning from the break,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.

Coaches Tim Cone of Alaska Milk and Kenneth Duremdes of Coca-Cola welcomed the league break, saying this gave them time to work with new imports Rosell Ellis and James Penny.

The Aces hope to arrest a two-game skid while the Tigers look to check a four-game slump.

“We’ve practiced very well through the break, so we’ll see if that will translate into a good performance against Coke,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

Cone also said Jeff Cariaso and Brandon Cablay are returning to play today. Tony dela Cruz is the only one left in sickbay.