INQUIRER Sports

Red Bull and Coca-Cola slug it out against opposite foes this Wednesday looking for wins that would keep them tied for the lead in the eliminations of the Smart-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The Red Bull Barako, the surprise package of the import-flavored tournament, will battle a team that is on a surprising run of its own, Welcoat, in the 4:50 p.m. contest before the Coca-Cola Tigers clash with slumping defending champion Alaska at 7:20 p.m.

Welcoat will be gunning to equal its franchise-best win total, with its Dragons coming off wins in three of their last four games and hoping to make it past the elimination round for the first time in their young history.

All of Welcoat’s three wins in eight games have been against formidable teams, the last victim being Talk ‘N Text.

But the Barako, champions here two years ago, will also be taking mean form into the game. They are coming off a 105-78 shellacking of Sta. Lucia and top guns Adam Parada and Cyrus Baguio have both been stepping up when needed.

Corey Santee and Marquis Gainous will again lead the Dragons, with help to come from Jay-R Reyes and two promising rookies in Joe Devance and Ryan Araña.

Filipino-American Rob Wainwright, who made that victory over Talk ‘N Text possible by exploding for 14 of his 24 points in the fourth period, could also prove to be key, like guards Froilan Baguion and Joey Mente.

Coca-Cola, meanwhile, is heavily favored against the Aces in the second game.

Alaska has lost its last four games and all sorts of rumors have started floating about the status of their import, Randy Holcomb, and the replacement that Alaska is supposed to plane in the next few days.

But coaching staff has denied reports that a certain Daniel Santiago, a 7-foot-1 NBA veteran and the resident starting center of the Puerto Rican national team, is on the way, as the Aces stick it out with Holcomb, the 6-foot-8 workhorse whom coach Tim Cone described earlier as “the import we need.”

The Tigers showed their meanest form yet, when they scored a 106-92 thumping of rock-solid Magnolia, which coach Binky Favis said was their “first convincing win.”

Jason Dixon was held to just seven points in that game, but George Gervin Jr. scored a PBA career-high 35 and Asi Taulava turned in his best offensive game of the tournament with 21 points and 15 rebounds.

Those three will be Cone’s main headache as he tries to get the best from his local roster that has been inconsistent.

Reigning MVP Willie Miller, Jeffrey Cariaso and Sonny Thoss must be able to provide solid back up to Holcomb and Larry Fonacier must come off the bench and post numbers he is capable of if Alaska hopes to get past the Tigers. Musong R. Castillo