Aces, Beermen out to build momentum

MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk and San Miguel Beer will be out to step up their charge while Barangay Ginebra and Purefoods hope to gain a second wind in Game Two of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals at the Astrodome today.

The Aces and the Beermen came out bristling from long break and pounced on the weary Kings and Giants in the opener of their respective duels Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Alaska and San Miguel are determined to build momentum after their first wins against the embattled Ginebra and Purefoods crews. The Beermen and the Giants take the floor first at 5 p.m. then the Aces and the Kings have their face-off at 7:30 p.m.

The Kings will be handicapped playing minus starters Celino Cruz and Eric Menk who absorbed injuries early in the game Wednesday. Cruz suffered an ankle sprain while Menk sustained a groin injury.

The rest of the team need to find ways to revitalize themselves if they’re to have a chance against the red-hot Alaska team.

“We have to find a way to refresh ourselves,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, himself looking drained from their grueling best-of-five quarters series with Talk n Text.

Purefoods has the same dilemma facing a well-rested, powerhouse foe in San Miguel Beer.

“We’re really spent, drained not only physically but more so mentally. I was hoping the momentum that carried us through in Game Five of our quarters series versus Rain or Shine would also carry us through in Game One. But we’re only able to put up a semblance of a fight in the first quarter,” said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.

“We tried to come back in the fourth quarter. But when we’re closing in, we would commit a mistake. Most of our 17 turnovers were mental mistakes. I thought we’re fighting but we just didn’t have the legs,” Gregorio added.

The youthful Purefoods mentor said ace scorer James Yap must deliver even more for them to be able to compete with their fired-up rivals.

“San Miguel is really tough. After their starters, they have a fresh five who can start with any other team. Bring in their third five, and they’re still tough,” said Gregorio.

“In Game One, everybody played well for them specially the guys coming off the bench.... Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle and Denok Miranda. It speaks well of the roster power that they have,” Gregorio also said.

“I tried to extend the minutes of Kerby (Raymundo) and he delivered. Unfortunately, James Yap probably went in full throttle against Rain or Shine and ran out of gas. We need James to score for us to have a chance against San Miguel,” Gregorio added.

Yap, the 2006 MVP winner, was limited to eight points in Game One, all coming from the stripe. He was 0-of-8 from the field.

In the other series, the well-rested team also played better and carved out an emphatic win.

“It’s a good start, definitely something we hope we can build momentum on,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

“But it’s nothing to get too excited about. They were tired and emotionally drained that’s why there’s always an advantage to get the top two for the semifinals,” Cone added.

For the record, 16 of the last 20 outright semifinalists went on to reach the finals. Eight of the last 10 champion teams were outright semis qualifiers.