Duel at the top, bottom up in KFC RP Cup

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball Association is starting the year with a bang as it showcases a triple-bill at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday, pitting reigning all-Filipino champion Talk n Text versus Barangay Ginebra in the main setto.

Smart Gilas takes on Purefoods at 2:30 p.m. in its final game as a guest team in the KFC Philippine Cup then Sta. Lucia Realty clashes with Rain or Shine at 5 p.m.

The PBA resumes play in its 2009-2010 season with the Texters, the Kings, Realtors and Elasto Painters all determined to come out strong to give their respective bids the needed boost.

Talk n Text, Ginebra and Sta. Lucia are hot in the heels of San Miguel Beer and Alaska Milk in the fight for the two outright semifinal slots while Rain or Shine is locked in a separate fight with Burger King, Coca-Cola and Barako Bull for wildcard berths.

“It’s going to be a battle as soon as play resumes because all the teams are jockeying for positions nearing the homestretch of the double-round eliminations,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

The fight in the lower half of the chart is as intense as the battle at the top since the last placer after the prelims is out of the playoff picture.

Going into the two-week holiday season break, the Energy Boosters occupy the cellar with a 2-12 record, although the Tigers are not far ahead at 3-12.

Over at the top, San Miguel and Alaska are fighting it out neck-to-neck for the No. 1 seed in the semifinals. The Beermen have dislodged the Aces at first place with their league-best 12-3 card, even as Alaska is a close second at 11-2.

Similarly attracting as much attention is the battle for survival between the Tigers and Energy Boosters.

Spicing up the competition is the fact that one of Barako Bull’s victories came at the expense of Coca-Cola, 81-73, last Oct. 18 in a game where big man Asi Taulava came down with a foot injury just eight minutes into the match.

The 6-foot-9 former league Most Valuable Player had to be sidelined for about two months following the injury that forced him to miss the Tigers’ next nine games.

But the Tigers pushed forward following Taulava’s return, winning two of their last three games, including a 105-92 rout of Alaska five days before Christmas.

“Right now our goal is very modest. And I guess the players realized it is very achievable,” said Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol of the team’s target of making it to the wildcard stage.

“I kept emphasizing to the team that when we come to a game, it’s not to win but to battle. So, regardless whether we play Barako Bull or Alaska, we should play with the same determination.”

Of the two, Barako Bull appears to be facing an enormous task ahead.

Winless the last two months – their last victory came Oct. 28 against Rain or Shine, 89-81 – the Energy Boosters have four games remaining, two of them against the top three teams in the league in San Miguel (Jan. 8) and Talk n Text (Jan. 10).

After a week’s break, they resume their campaign on Jan. 17 against the Sta. Lucia Realtors before capping the conference with a grudge match versus Coca-Cola on the 20th at the Astrodome.

The Tigers for their part, won’t play their first game of 2010 until Jan. 13 opposite the Beermen, followed by their showdown with the Elasto Painters on the 15th, and finally against the Energy Drinkers five days later.