Games today, April 22, 2008:
(Cuneta Astrodome)
4:50 p.m. - Talk ‘N Text vs. Air21
7:20 p.m. - Coca-Cola vs. Sta. Lucia

Four teams try to go into an eight-day break on a winning note as the 33rd PBA Fiesta Cup offers a Tuesday double-header at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals take on the Air21 Express in the first game, while the Coca-Cola Tigers look to grab the solo top spot in the standings when they tackle the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the main game.

The Tigers are currently tied with the Red Bull Barakos at the top, sporting four wins against a single loss.

Coca-Cola went through the wringer before escaping with an 82-81 win over the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings last Friday.

Having two imports is helping the Tigers big time but the Coca-Cola locals are also doing a fine job, thus making the squad tougher to beat.

Against the Kings, Jason Dixon and George Gervin Jr. combined for 32 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Asi Taulava is one of the Coca-Cola locals who are stepping big time as he tallied 17 points, 11 boards, one assist and one block against the Kings.

Taulava, Dixon and Gervin are expected to figure in a tight battle in the shaded area as Sta. Lucia will parade its own triple towers in Wesley Wilson, Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino.

After winning their first three games, the Realtors finally crashed to their first defeat following a close 115-113 loss to the Pals last Friday.

The Pals look to get a good follow up to that win but have to come up with a superb performance since they will be facing a fresh Air21 squad.

The Express have not played since April 13 when they clobbered the erstwhile unbeaten Tigers, 102-95.

Air21 occupies the sixth spot with an even 2-2 (win-loss) record, while Talk N Text shares the fourth and fifth places with Magnolia with similar 3-2 records.

After today’s game, the league will suspend its regular elimination games to give way to the All-Star Weekend slated April 24 to 27 in Bacolod City. /Correspondent Calvin D. Cordova