Thursday, March 27, 2008 Coke, Pals face off in Fiesta Cup opener
MANILA—Saturday’s opening game of the PBA-Smart Fiesta Cup is a surefire battle, pitting two teams with an old score to settle.
Coca-Cola and Talk N Text may have finished outside the top five in the recent Philippine Cup but they surely make an interesting pair to kick off the import-laced tourney set at 4:30 p.m. at the Panabo Multi-purpose, Tourism and Cultural Center in Davao del Norte.
The Pals, for one, are aching for vengeance against the Tigers who dealt them two heart-rending losses that eliminated TnT from the playoffs of the Philippine Cup.
Curiously, Talk ’N Text went on a nosedive after trading Asi Taulava to Coca-Cola in exchange for Ali Peek. The Fil-Tongan behemoth played a key role in the Tigers’ two crucial wins against the Pals.
The poor showing of the Pals in the Fiesta Cup prompted the team management not to extend coach Derrick Pumaren’s contract, paving the way for the entry of coach Chot Reyes.
Reyes said they have a job cut out for them against the Tigers.
“Coca-Cola has done a good job re-building. With two imports, all they need is three quality players and they’re tough to beat,” observed Reyes, who won two championships with Coca-Cola in 2002 and 2003.
“On paper, they should be in the top three,” he added, impressed with Coca-Cola’s lineup with the addition of Nic Belasco, who was during the in-between-conference break.
Aside from Taulava and Belasco, the Tigers will also be beef up by the 5-foot-9 Calvin Cage and 6-foot Jason Dixon.
For finishing ninth and 10th, respectively, in the eliminations of last conference, Coca-Cola and Welcoat are allowed to field in two imports in the tourney—one with a ceiling of 6-foot-1. (PBA Media Bureau)
