Teams in unfamiliar territory open PBA wildcard phase

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - THE Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Cup playoffs formally get underway Wednesday, featuring four of the top teams in the last two conferences squaring off in a fight for survival. Defending champion Alaska clashes with reigning Philippine Cup titlist Sta. Lucia at 4:50 p.m., while Talk ’N Text and Purefoods, the runners-up in the last two tournaments, collide in the other do-or-die showdown scheduled at 7:20 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The winners of today’s wildcard games figure in another rubber match on Friday for the right to advance to the best-of-three quarterfinals opposite Ginebra. “Obviously, Sta. Lucia is a team we didn’t want to face," admitted Alaska coach Tim Cone. "We were hoping to be in the quarterfinals at least. But we’ll make some adjustments. We’re very confident." The Aces have yet to beat the Realtors this conference, having been in the receiving end of a 95-75 blowout the last time they met. That was when Sta. Lucia had an already in-form Lee Benson around, when the explosive import accounting for 22 points and a game-high 28 rebounds. The Aces also lost to the Realtors in seven games during the Philippine Cup semifinals. But while the Realtors may have the Aces’ number this season, coach Boyet Fernandez believes today’s game is an entirely different contest. “’Di ko na iniisip na di pa nanalo ang Alaska sa amin this conference. This is different. It’s a knockout game and the team that will come out strong and be steady in the stretch will win the game." Alaska wasn’t expected to be on this stage. It won a tournament-best six straight wins and was one victory away from a quarterfinal berth but blew away the momentum it enjoyed after losing to the Gin Kings last Sunday, 97-90. After the 18-game eliminations, the Aces finished with a 9-9 (win-loss) record, with the Realtors even faring worse with a 7-11 slate. After that one-sided win over Alaska, Sta. Lucia has been on a four-game losing slide, with its mission of completing a season sweep of the two titles now very much in danger. Just like the Aces and the Realtors, the Giants and the Phone Pals’ season are now on the verge of ending. A team that was considered to be on the rise with the acquisition of new coach Chot Reyes, the Phone Pals will go through their second consecutive wildcard stint. In the last Philippine Cup Talk ’N Text lost to the Coca-Cola Tigers in the first do-or-die game. Talk ‘N Text and Purefoods split their two preliminary-round meetings, with the Phone Pals barely winning the second after a double-pump jumper by Ren-Ren Ritualo in the last 6.4 seconds gave the Phone Pals a 102-101 victory. In the first round, the Giants won 84-79. - GMANews.TV