(From PBA)
B-Meg Derby Ace coach Ryan Gregorio and the Llamados know what they are into when they step on the court on Wednesday to face the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
They know exactly the significance of this rematch. And they are well aware that it may be the turning point of their campaign in the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference.
“It is truly an important game for us in our pursuit to grab the second seat,” said Gregorio referring to the second outright semifinal berth.
League leader Talk N’ Text has clinched the first of two coveted seats up for grabs with its 14-3 (win-loss) record while leaving defending champion San Miguel (12-5), Derby Ace (11-5) and possibly Alaska (11-6) battling it out for the number two berth.
The fact that they still control their destiny keeps Gregorio and his troops upbeat knowing they have an opportunity to meet their goal.
Derby Ace dominated the Kings, 95-82, in their first encounter last May 9 but Gregorio is anticipating a much tougher challenge this time around citing Ginebra’s retooled roster.
Their four-game winning streak though provides the Llamados with a great confidence boost in their chase for the crucial “W” that would earn them a second place tie with the Beermen and keep them in the hunt for the coveted second Final 4 seat.
“We are upbeat knowing that our fate is still within our control. But we have to take care of our business,” Gregorio said. “We have primed ourselves up for this opportunity and we will certainly make sure that tremendous effort is rendered in our game against Ginebra.”
Game time is set at 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum. It follows the 5 o’clock match between Talk N’ Text and Barako Energy Coffee.
The Coffee Masters (4-13) are aiming for their first back-to-back wins in the conference to stay in contention for a wild card spot.
After disappointing setbacks to Coca-Cola (7-9) and Air21 (4-13), Ginebra coach Jong Uichico looks at the rematch as “a game that will define his team’s chances.”
He didn’t elaborate but the Kings could be in danger of slipping into the wild card phase with a third consecutive loss.
Gregorio said Ginebra’s retooled roster is comparable to the talent of the mighty Texters and the awesome Beermen and the Kings will always be a dangerous foe especially because they also badly need a victory.
“So I expect nothing short of a playoff kind of game,” Gregorio said.
The Derby Ace coach said Ginebra presents tremendous challenge because it’s a team packed with explosive scorers and scorers who can just light up.
“So it’s imperative that our team defense must be solid the whole game,” Gregorio said. (DBC)
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