Pals to flaunt might

By: Zean Macamay
People's Journal
October 17, 2007

Games Today (Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. -- Sta. Lucia vs Purefoods
7:20 p.m. -- Talk ‘N Text vs Alaska

Right in his first game in the PBA Philippine Cup, Alaska coach Tim Cone is already talking about motivation.

“We know they’re going to be motivated. But our motivation will be to beat them with a complete line-up,” said Cone.

The multi-titled, outspoken mentor is referring no less to the team he and his Aces beat in last season’s Fiesta Cup Finals but considered these days as one a very strong cast -- Talk ‘N Text -- after three of its superstars have returned.

The team the Aces defeated in seven electrifying games last conference didn’t have Jimmy Alapag, Asi Taulava and Ren Ren Ritualo for being part of the national team. Now, almost everybody is murmuring that it would take a near-flawless game to slip past the Phone Pals.

Coach Derek Pumaren, though, wouldn’t want to think that his Talk ‘N Text is nearly invincible. He had already realized the kind of damage the Aces could inflict, and doesn’t see Alaska vulnerable enough even if they had lost a key veteran player in Nic Belasco.

“We know what Alaska can do so I guess we’ll just have to be ready for them,” said Pumaren. “The thing here is that we should play to our potential, and probably make good use of our deep bench.”

Belasco was traded to Welcoat for unproven Jun-Jun Cabatu and a future pick. Yet, the Aces have somewhat made up for the loss by acquiring two big names in the August draft �" Kenneth Bono and JR Quinahan.

Tony De La Cruz, the only player Alaska loaned to the RP squad, likewise is back and could provide the perimeter shooting needed to open up Talk ‘N Text’s inside defense.

The biggest factor going for Alaska , though, will be Mike Cortez and Jeffrey Cariaso, who missed the entire Fiesta Cup championship series.

Both have fully recovered from knee injuries, and Cone said that the two will see action tonight, taking some load off Willie Miller on offense.

Still, Miller will be the main man for Alaska . He is coming from a fruitful season after becoming the first guard to win the MVP twice. Miller first won the MVP in 2002 with Red Bull.

Pre-season tournament champion Purefoods also debuts today against Sta. Lucia, eyeing to kick off its title-reclaiming bid on a big note.

The Giants, who have failed to make it to the Final Four in the two tournaments last season mainly because of injuries particularly on Marc Pingris, now hold a healthy line-up and possess an added might inside in Rommel Adducul.

Adducul was traded to Purefoods from San Miguel Beer, now Magnolia, through Red Bull.

The Giants winning the pre-season event would certainly come as a massive morale booster. Purefoods, which decided not to rehire Jun Limpot in the off-season, won the tournament via a sweep.