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Friday, November 18, 2005
TNT plays RB today
JOEL Banal, looking to etch his name in a special place in PBA All-Star annals, will try to keep Talk ’N Text’s hold of second spot against the Red Bull Barakos as the Phone Pals’ chief strategist will steer his team in their San Mig-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Yñares Center today.
Banal, tasked to call the shots for the South All Stars in the PBA All Star Game in Laoag City on Nov. 26, is expected to instruct the Phone Pals (6-3) to give it all they’ve got as a loss will drop them to third place behind the streaking Ginebra Gin Kings (7-4).
On the other hand, Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao, who worked the sidelines for the North All-Stars last year and missed the chance at payback with Ryan Gregorio now taking over the reins for the host team in this year’s All-Star Game, is expected not to be complacent in this match as he too has a standing to keep.
The Barakos are currently tied with Alaska and Air21 with a 5-5 win-loss slate each.
In the main game, the Sta. Lucia Realtors (4-6) are eyeing to sustain their momentum against the cellar-dwelling defending champions, San Miguel Beermen (1-7).
Two straight
Meanwhile, in the All-Star Game, Purefoods Chunkee’s Ryan Gregorio is hoping to become only the second coach to win two straight editions of the annual cage spectacle when he and North All-Stars team face Banal’s wards.
Gregorio and Banal earned their spots on the strength of their teams’ standings in the ongoing San Mig Coffee-PBA Fiesta Conference.
“It’s a great honor for me to coach in the All-Star Game again. It would become more fulfilling if my team is able to duplicate our victory last year,” said Banal, hoping match the feat of Alaska coach Tim Cone, who steered the RP Centennial Team to victory in the 1998 edition of the All-Star Game and made it two in a row by leading the Veterans past the rookie/sophomores the next year.
For the record, Derick Pumaren and Norman Black are two other coaches who have won two All-Star Games. Pumaren triumphed with the North team in 1993 and with the Governors’ All Stars in 2003. (JSV)
(November 18, 2005 issue)
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