INQUIRER Sports

DEPLETED MOST OF THE TIME but finding enough ways to win, Barangay Ginebra puts a three-game winning streak on the line Wednesday when it clashes with Sta. Lucia with the Gin Kings also eyeing a piece of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup lead at the Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. with the Kings, in their finest all-Filipino start in two years, favored slightly over the Realtors even with the continued absence of scoring machine Mark Caguioa and with reigning MVP Jayjay Helterbrand yet to hit peak form.

The Realtors are reeling from two straight defeats. After a strong 3-1 start, Sta. Lucia has suddenly groped for form.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, however, is far from convinced that tonight?s game will be an easy outing.

?Sta. Lucia is a team that is just getting its bearings,? Uichico said. ?They (Realtors) get things done.?

At 5-1, the Kings have bettered their 2007 start in this tournament and are actually on track to matching the franchise?s best-ever all-Filipino start recorded 12 years ago (7-1), while the team was still handled by Sonny Jaworski and known as Gordon?s Gin.

Meanwhile, struggling squads Burger King and Coca-Cola take the floor at 5 p.m., with the Whoppers seeking to arrest a three-game skid.

Coca-Cola lost its last game after breaking through against Purefoods two weeks ago, and the Tigers will have to grind it out for another game without leader Asi Taulava, who is still out because of a slight foot fracture.

Burger King will come into the game smarting from an 83-79 setback at the hands of the Kings in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, on Saturday where Enrico Villanueva, Cyrus Baguio and Ronald Tubid pulled out the win for Ginebra.

Baguio, a star in other teams before he went to Ginebra, has slowly found his rhythm in the continued absence of Caguioa, tossing in at least 15 points in each of the last three Ginebra victories to regain his true status in the league.

Helterbrand will play the second game in his comeback from a knee injury.

Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams will spearhead the Realtors, who rebuilt during the off-season by dealing away former cornerstone Dennis Espino and Dennis Miranda and acquiring younger talent in Gabby Espinas and Josh Urbiztondo.