Cabagnot, Ross reinforce Petron against Air21

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:45 p.m. – Petron vs Air21

8 p.m. – San Mig Coffee vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines - With Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross ready to get back into action, unbeaten Petron Blaze now looks more formidable as the Boosters take on the Air21 Express in a faceoff between the pacesetters versus tail-enders in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Boosters are way ahead in team standings with a 5-0 card but they are not to take the Express lightly considering the latter’s huge improvement at least in their last three games.

Petron and Air21 play at 8 p.m. after the 5:45 p.m. duel between Meralco and San Mig Coffee.

“We are aware how dangerous Air21 is, coming from two overtime losses and a won game the last time out,” said Petron coach Gee Abanilla.

Definitely more dangerous, though, is Petron – the unbeaten league leader now with more weapons with the return of Cabagnot and Ross.

“They’re back in full practice already,” said Abanilla adding though that they would be utilized depending on game situation. “They will be game time decision.” 

The Boosters have gone with a perfect slate through five games despite injuries to Cabagnot, Ross, Ronald Tubid and Yousef Taha. At one point, Petron played with only eight men also minus Chris Lutz.

Meanwhile, Air21 is fresh from a first victory – a 92-77 rout of Barako Bull. Prior to this, the Express barely lost their last two games on overtime duels.

“We just showed dramatic improvement in our game, and the gorilla, not just monkey, is off our back,” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren.

“Even in our last two games, more or less I saw the team we’re projecting for this conference. The first three games were really horrific,” Pumaren also said.

The other game is a battle between teams slightly ahead of Air21.

Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio said they would be focused and determined as they try to regain a .500 mark after being stunned by Globalport the last time.

“The last defeat gave us a strong lesson – that in the PBA, there is no place for complacency. We went back to earth with a loud thud after the win against Ginebra. We must bounce back,” Gregorio said.

Globalport snapped Meralco’s two-game run with a 93-89 decision Friday at the Big Dome.

Gregorio said they must do their assignment to get the rebounds if they’re to bounce back against San Mig Coffee.

“Rebounding is a concern for us. Our lack of ceiling is manifesting itself in our failure to get the boards. We are dead last with only 44 rebounds per game. If we are to beat a tall team like San Mig, we must gang rebound,” said Gregorio.

“They are a strong team and we are not coming in as the favorites. With our players down with injuries, we must find ways to compete and win,” Gregorio also said.

Both teams have their health woes. James Yap and Joe Devance are smarting from injuries for San Mig while Reynel Hugnatan and Cliff Hodge are recovering for Meralco.

The Mixers surely have a lot more other concerns at 1-4.

They had just nailed their first win in the season against Air21 when the Mixers went losing again, absorbing an 83-86 defeat at the hands of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Gregorio, however, is convinced San Mig will always be a threat.

“San Mig Coffee is bound to get better. They usually start this way but they will find their bearings along the way. We must not let their 1-4 mark deceive us,” said Gregorio.

NOTES: The Meralco management is now closely looking at the health status of Kerby Raymundo as this will determine whether the team needs to sign up Danny Ildefonso -- the two-time MVP winner already released to free agent market by Petron Blaze. Raymundo, acquired by Meralco from Barangay Ginebra for JayR Reyes, is still undergoing a rehab process. The question is whether he can join the Bolts soon. Meralco’s frontline is severely handicapped with Reynel Hugnatan and Cliff Hodge also hit by injuries.